Irrational pursuit-evasion differential games: A cumulative prospect theory approach

Abstract: This paper considers for the first time pursuit-evasion (PE) differential games with irrational perceptions of both pursuer and evader on probabilistic characteristics of environmental uncertainty. Firstly, the irrational perceptions of risk aversion and probability sensitivity are modeled and incorporated within a Bayesian PE differential game framework by using Cumulative Prospect Theory (CPT) approach; Secondly, several sufficient conditions of capturability are established in terms of system dynamics and irrational parameters; Finally, the existence of CPT-Nash equilibria is rigorously analyzed by invoking Brouwer's fixed-point theorem. The new results reveal that irrational behaviors benefit the pursuer in some cases and the evader in others. Certain captures that are unachievable under rational behaviors can be achieved under irrational ones. By bridging irrational behavioral theory with game-theoretic control, this framework establishes a rigorous theoretical foundation for practical control engineering within complex human-machine systems.