Various embodiments involve dynamically controlling parameters for processing sensor data, including rates at which vehicle sensors are sampled and analyzed, based on the vehicle's speed and direction. Data or sampling rates of sensors useful for collision avoidance and/or path planning may be adjusted to emphasize data from sensors having a field of view encompassing the travel direction, while limiting processing of data from sensors less likely to provide useful data for such purposes. In some embodiments, the rate at which data from a particular sensor is sampled and/or processed may depend on a vehicle's direction and speed of travel as well as the sensor's field of view. Processing demands may be reduced by focusing processing on data from sensors viewing the direction of travel while reducing processing of data from sensors viewing other directions. In some embodiments, sensor data sampling or processing rates may vary based on collision risk probabilities.
