Toward Informed AV Decision-Making: Computational Model of Well-being and Trust in Mobility

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel computational model using a Dynamic Bayesian Network to infer human cognitive states like well-being and trust, aiming to improve autonomous vehicle decision-making through human-aware, personalized interactions.

Contribution

The paper presents a new DBN-based model that infers human cognitive states and integrates them into AV decisions, extending to a causal inference framework for better human-centered automation.

Findings

Model accurately predicts user well-being and trust states.

Empirical assessment shows improved decision-making effectiveness.

Framework balances user well-being, trust, and operational costs.

Abstract

For future human-autonomous vehicle (AV) interactions to be effective and smooth, human-aware systems that analyze and align human needs with automation decisions are essential. Achieving this requires systems that account for human cognitive states. We present a novel computational model in the form of a Dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN) that infers the cognitive states of both AV users and other road users, integrating this information into the AV's decision-making process. Specifically, our model captures the well-being of both an AV user and an interacting road user as cognitive states alongside trust. Our DBN models infer beliefs over the AV user's evolving well-being, trust, and intention states, as well as the possible well-being of other road users, based on observed interaction experiences. Using data collected from an interaction study, we refine the model parameters and empirically assess its performance. Finally, we extend our model into a causal inference model (CIM) framework for AV decision-making, enabling the AV to enhance user well-being and trust while balancing these factors with its own operational costs and the well-being of interacting road users. Our evaluation demonstrates the model's effectiveness in accurately predicting user's states and guiding informed, human-centered AV decisions.