The new wave of computer-driven entertainment technology throws audiences and game players into massive virtual worlds where entire cities are rendered in real time. Computer animated characters run through inner-city streets teeming with pedestrians, get into and out of cars, and drive through rush-hour traffic; all fully rendered with 3D graphics, animations, particle effects and linked to 3D sound effects to produce more realistic and immersive computer-hosted entertainment experiences than ever before. No modern urban environment is complete without realistic simulated road traffic, however traffic simulation has not kept pace with the entertainment industry - modern traffic simulations simply do not reproduce convincing individual driver intelligence to the level required by interactive entertainment. We present a new paradigm for agent-driven traffic simulation, specifically designed for such applications. Our agent architecture utilises a new hybrid algorithm for dynamic road navigation, implicitly facilitates rational overtaking behaviour, and produces realistic smooth-motion vehicle control.
Keywords: 3D graphics; traffic simulation; agents; virtual reality; video game; AI, fuzzy logic.
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