Active Inference Model Resolves Road User Space-Sharing Conflicts

A new computational model uses active inference to simulate how road users resolve space-sharing conflicts through uncertainty reduction. The model extends previous driver behavior models to handle two-agent interactions, incorporating three mechanisms: implicit communication via behavioral coupling, normative expectations like stop signs and priority rules, and explicit communication. In a simplified intersection scenario, normative and explicit cues increased successful conflict resolution, but only when agents acted as expected. The research aims to improve traffic safety and autonomous vehicle deployment by providing a theoretically grounded framework for interaction dynamics.