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This paper introduces the interesting idea of demand matrices to more efficiently do pure exploration. Demand matrices simply specific the minimum number of times needed to visit every state-action pair. This is then treated as an additional part of the state in an augmented MDP, which can then be solved to derive the optimal exploration strategy to achieve the specified initial demand. While the idea is interesting and solid, there are downsides to the idea itself and some of the analysis in this paper that could be improved upon. There are no theoretical guarantees that using this algorithm with a learned model at the same time will work.

Reasoning language models (RLMs), also known as Large Reasoning Models (LRMs), such as OpenAI's o1 and o3, DeepSeek-V3, and Alibaba's QwQ, have redefined AI's problem-solving capabilities by extending LLMs with advanced reasoning mechanisms. Yet, their high costs, proprietary nature, and complex architectures - uniquely combining Reinforcement Learning (RL), search heuristics, and LLMs - present accessibility and scalability challenges. To address these, we propose a comprehensive blueprint that organizes RLM components into a modular framework, based on a survey and analysis of all RLM works. This blueprint incorporates diverse reasoning structures (chains, trees, graphs, and nested forms), reasoning strategies (e.g., Monte Carlo Tree Search, Beam Search), RL concepts (policy, value models and others), supervision schemes (Outcome-Based and Process-Based Supervision), and other related concepts (e.g., Test-Time Compute, Retrieval-Augmented Generation, agent tools). We also provide detailed mathematical formulations and algorithmic specifications to simplify RLM implementation. By showing how schemes like LLaMA-Berry, QwQ, Journey Learning, and Graph of Thoughts fit as special cases, we demonstrate the blueprint's versatility and unifying potential. To illustrate its utility, we introduce x1, a modular implementation for rapid RLM prototyping and experimentation. Using x1 and a literature review, we provide key insights, such as multi-phase training for policy and value models, and the importance of familiar training distributions. Finally, we discuss scalable RLM cloud deployments and we outline how RLMs can integrate with a broader LLM ecosystem. Our work demystifies RLM construction, democratizes advanced reasoning capabilities, and fosters innovation, aiming to mitigate the gap between "rich AI" and "poor AI" by lowering barriers to RLM design and experimentation.

Transfer Learning (TL) is an emerging field in modeling building thermal dynamics. This method reduces the data required for a data-driven model of a target building by leveraging knowledge from a source building. Consequently, it enables the creation of data-efficient models that can be used for advanced control and fault detection & diagnosis. A major limitation of the TL approach is its inconsistent performance across different sources. Although accurate source-building selection for a target is crucial, it remains a persistent challenge. We present GenTL, a general transfer learning model for single-family houses in Central Europe. GenTL can be efficiently fine-tuned to a large variety of target buildings. It is pretrained on a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network with data from 450 different buildings. The general transfer learning model eliminates the need for source-building selection by serving as a universal source for fine-tuning. Comparative analysis with conventional single-source to single-target TL demonstrates the efficacy and reliability of the general pretraining approach. Testing GenTL on 144 target buildings for fine-tuning reveals an average prediction error (RMSE) reduction of 42.1 % compared to fine-tuning single-source models.

We study the dynamic pricing problem with knapsack, addressing the challenge of balancing exploration and exploitation under resource constraints. We introduce three algorithms tailored to different informational settings: a Boundary Attracted Re-solve Method for full information, an online learning algorithm for scenarios with no prior information, and an estimate-then-select re-solve algorithm that leverages machine-learned informed prices with known upper bound of estimation errors. The Boundary Attracted Re-solve Method achieves logarithmic regret without requiring the non-degeneracy condition, while the online learning algorithm attains an optimal $O(\sqrt{T})$ regret. Our estimate-then-select approach bridges the gap between these settings, providing improved regret bounds when reliable offline data is available. Numerical experiments validate the effectiveness and robustness of our algorithms across various scenarios. This work advances the understanding of online resource allocation and dynamic pricing, offering practical solutions adaptable to different informational structures.

Modern neural networks (NNs) often do not generalize well in the presence of a "covariate shift"; that is, in situations where the training and test data distributions differ, but the conditional distribution of classification labels remains unchanged. In such cases, NN generalization can be reduced to a problem of learning more domain-invariant features. Domain adaptation (DA) methods include a range of techniques aimed at achieving this; however, these methods have struggled with the need for extensive hyperparameter tuning, which then incurs significant computational costs. In this work, we introduce SIDDA, an out-of-the-box DA training algorithm built upon the Sinkhorn divergence, that can achieve effective domain alignment with minimal hyperparameter tuning and computational overhead. We demonstrate the efficacy of our method on multiple simulated and real datasets of varying complexity, including simple shapes, handwritten digits, and real astronomical observations. SIDDA is compatible with a variety of NN architectures, and it works particularly well in improving classification accuracy and model calibration when paired with equivariant neural networks (ENNs). We find that SIDDA enhances the generalization capabilities of NNs, achieving up to a $\approx40\%$ improvement in classification accuracy on unlabeled target data. We also study the efficacy of DA on ENNs with respect to the varying group orders of the dihedral group $D_N$, and find that the model performance improves as the degree of equivariance increases. Finally, we find that SIDDA enhances model calibration on both source and target data--achieving over an order of magnitude improvement in the ECE and Brier score. SIDDA's versatility, combined with its automated approach to domain alignment, has the potential to advance multi-dataset studies by enabling the development of highly generalizable models.

Neuromorphic engineering aims to incorporate the computational principles found in animal brains, into modern technological systems. Following this approach, in this work we propose a closed-loop neuromorphic control system for an event-based robotic arm. The proposed system consists of a shifted Winner-Take-All spiking network for interpolating a reference trajectory and a spiking comparator network responsible for controlling the flow continuity of the trajectory, which is fed back to the actual position of the robot. The comparator model is based on a differential position comparison neural network, which governs the execution of the next trajectory points to close the control loop between both components of the system. To evaluate the system, we implemented and deployed the model on a mixed-signal analog-digital neuromorphic platform, the DYNAP-SE2, to facilitate integration and communication with the ED-Scorbot robotic arm platform. Experimental results on one joint of the robot validate the use of this architecture and pave the way for future neuro-inspired control of the entire robot.

The wind farm control problem is challenging, since conventional model-based control strategies require tractable models of complex aerodynamical interactions between the turbines and suffer from the curse of dimension when the number of turbines increases. Recently, model-free and multi-agent reinforcement learning approaches have been used to address this challenge. In this article, we introduce WFCRL (Wind Farm Control with Reinforcement Learning), the first open suite of multi-agent reinforcement learning environments for the wind farm control problem. WFCRL frames a cooperative Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL) problem: each turbine is an agent and can learn to adjust its yaw, pitch or torque to maximize the common objective (e.g. the total power production of the farm). WFCRL also offers turbine load observations that will allow to optimize the farm performance while limiting turbine structural damages. Interfaces with two state-of-the-art farm simulators are implemented in WFCRL: a static simulator (FLORIS) and a dynamic simulator (FAST.Farm). For each simulator, $10$ wind layouts are provided, including $5$ real wind farms. Two state-of-the-art online MARL algorithms are implemented to illustrate the scaling challenges. As learning online on FAST.Farm is highly time-consuming, WFCRL offers the possibility of designing transfer learning strategies from FLORIS to FAST.Farm.

Environmental monitoring is used to characterize the health and relationship between organisms and their environments. In forest ecosystems, robots can serve as platforms to acquire such data, even in hard-to-reach places where wire-traversing platforms are particularly promising due to their efficient displacement. This paper presents the RaccoonBot, which is a novel autonomous wire-traversing robot for persistent environmental monitoring, featuring a fail-safe mechanical design with a self-locking mechanism in case of electrical shortage. The robot also features energy-aware mobility through a novel Solar tracking algorithm, that allows the robot to find a position on the wire to have direct contact with solar power to increase the energy harvested. Experimental results validate the electro-mechanical features of the RaccoonBot, showing that it is able to handle wire perturbations, different inclinations, and achieving energy autonomy.

Smart grids are a type of sophisticated energy infrastructure that increase the generation and distribution of electricity's sustainability, dependability, and efficiency by utilizing digital communication technologies. They combine a number of cutting-edge techniques and technology to improve energy resource management. A large amount of research study on the topic of smart grids for energy management has been completed in the last several years. The authors of the present study want to cover a number of topics, including smart grid benefits and components, technical developments, integrating renewable energy sources, using artificial intelligence and data analytics, cybersecurity, and privacy. Smart Grids for Energy Management are an innovative field of study aiming at tackling various difficulties and magnifying the efficiency, dependability, and sustainability of energy systems, including: 1) Renewable sources of power like solar and wind are intermittent and unpredictable 2) Defending smart grid system from various cyber-attacks 3) Incorporating an increasing number of electric vehicles into the system of power grid without overwhelming it. Additionally, it is proposed to use AI and data analytics for better performance on the grid, reliability, and energy management. It also looks into how AI and data analytics can be used to optimize grid performance, enhance reliability, and improve energy management. The authors will explore these significant challenges and ongoing research. Lastly, significant issues in this field are noted, and recommendations for further work are provided.