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Maybe they use a digital micromirror device also used in dlp projectors. By using a fish eye lens you could use the mirror array to look around and calculate the traveling distance of light pulses.

I am also thinking about a 3d camera. Maybe those are getting good enought to measure distance.

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Another possibility might be to use multiple solid state laser transmitter/receiver pairs located close together, kind of like ink-jet printer nozzles. Because they're discreet, you would lose some resolution compared to a continuous scan system, but it might be OK for the purpose of staying in a road.

And, since the vehicle is moving (most of the time) anyway, maybe multiple returns can be integrated something like a synthetic aperture radar system to form a more complete picture.

I thought the micro-mirror approach would be considered electromechanical and not solid-state?

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