Abstract: Techniques are described to implement a probe sensor that improves data capture and data analysis. A probe sensor can be emulated in a virtual environment. A robot simulation session is initialized. The session includes a virtual environment with several objects and a set of robots. Each robot has a virtual sensor. A separate client controls each robot. Data perceived by the virtual sensor is provided to the client for controlling the robot. To capture the data the virtual sensor emits a plurality of rays, each ray transmitted in a stochastically selected direction, and performs raytracing to determine an object(s) in the virtual environment on which each ray is incident. The stochastic data capture can also be performed by a sensor in a real world scenario. Further, in some cases, the data captured by a sensor is stochastically sampled to improve the computing.