System and method for adaptive perception in a vehicle

Abstract

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to selectively processing sensor data to perceive aspects of a surrounding environment of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes, in response to identifying attributes of the surrounding environment from sensor data of one or more sensors, selecting a perception technique from a plurality of perception techniques according to a human-based perception model that correlates the plurality of perception techniques with the attributes to identify which of the plurality of perception techniques efficiently process the sensor data. The method includes analyzing the sensor data using the perception technique to perceive characteristics of the surrounding environment that pertain to autonomously controlling the vehicle. The method includes autonomously controlling the vehicle according to the characteristics to navigate through the surrounding environment.