Resolving space-sharing conflicts in road user interactions through uncertainty reduction: An active inference-based computational model

TL;DR

This paper presents an active inference-based computational model for simulating how road users resolve space-sharing conflicts, incorporating implicit and explicit communication, and analyzes its implications for traffic safety.

Contribution

It extends a previous driver behavior model to simulate interactive behavior and introduces mechanisms for uncertainty reduction in road user interactions.

Findings

Normative and explicit communication cues can improve conflict resolution success.

Reliance on communication cues can lead to collisions if expectations are violated.

Active inference offers a novel framework for modeling road user interactions.

Abstract

Understanding how road users resolve space-sharing conflicts is important both for traffic safety and the safe deployment of autonomous vehicles. While existing models have captured specific aspects of such interactions (e.g., explicit communication), a theoretically-grounded computational framework has been lacking. In this paper, we extend a previously developed active inference-based driver behavior model to simulate interactive behavior of two agents. Our model captures three complementary mechanisms for uncertainty reduction in interaction: (i) implicit communication via direct behavioral coupling, (ii) reliance on normative expectations (stop signs, priority rules, etc.), and (iii) explicit communication. In a simplified intersection scenario, we show that normative and explicit communication cues can increase the likelihood of a successful conflict resolution. However, this relies on agents acting as expected. In situations where another agent (intentionally or unintentionally) violates normative expectations or communicates misleading information, reliance on these cues may induce collisions. These findings illustrate how active inference can provide a novel framework for modeling road user interactions which is also applicable in other fields.