Reinforcement Learning
On learning history based policies for controlling Markov decision processes
Patil, Gandharv, Mahajan, Aditya, Precup, Doina
State abstraction and function approximation are vital components used by reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms to efficiently solve complex control problems when exact computations are intractable due to large state and action spaces. Over the past few decades, state abstraction in RL has evolved from the use of pre-determined and problemspecific features [18, 74, 9, 69, 64, 42, 58] to the use of adaptive basis functions learnt by solving an isolated regression problem [53, 47, 39, 56], and more recently to the use of neural network-based Deep-RL algorithms that embed state abstraction in successive layers of a neural network [5, 7]. Feature abstraction results in information loss, and the resulting state features might not satisfy the controlled Markov property, even if this property is satisfied by the corresponding state [70]. One approach to counteract the loss of the Markov property is to generate the features using the history of state-action pairs, and empirical evidence suggests that using such history-based features are beneficial in practice [52]. However, a theoretical characterisation of history-based Deep-RL algorithms for fully observed Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) is largely absent form the literature.
Learning to Imitate
A key aspect of human learning is imitation: the capability to mimic and learn behavior from a teacher or an expert. This is an important ability for acquiring new skills, such as walking, biking, or speaking a new language. Although current Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems are capable of complex decision-making, such as mastering Go, playing complex strategic games like Starcraft, or manipulating a Rubik's cube, these systems often require over 100 million interactions with an environment to train -- equivalent of more than 100 years of human experience -- to reach human-level performance. In contrast, a human can acquire new skills in relatively short amounts of time by observing an expert. How can we enable our artificial agents to similarly acquire such fast learning ability?
Path Planning Using Wassertein Distributionally Robust Deep Q-learning
Alpturk, Cem, Renganathan, Venkatraman
We investigate the problem of risk averse robot path planning using the deep reinforcement learning and distributionally robust optimization perspectives. Our problem formulation involves modelling the robot as a stochastic linear dynamical system, assuming that a collection of process noise samples is available. We cast the risk averse motion planning problem as a Markov decision process and propose a continuous reward function design that explicitly takes into account the risk of collision with obstacles while encouraging the robot's motion towards the goal. We learn the risk-averse robot control actions through Lipschitz approximated Wasserstein distributionally robust deep Q-learning to hedge against the noise uncertainty. The learned control actions result in a safe and risk averse trajectory from the source to the goal, avoiding all the obstacles. Various supporting numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate our proposed approach.
Decentralized Federated Reinforcement Learning for User-Centric Dynamic TFDD Control
Yin, Ziyan, Wang, Zhe, Li, Jun, Ding, Ming, Chen, Wen, Jin, Shi
The explosive growth of dynamic and heterogeneous data traffic brings great challenges for 5G and beyond mobile networks. To enhance the network capacity and reliability, we propose a learning-based dynamic time-frequency division duplexing (D-TFDD) scheme that adaptively allocates the uplink and downlink time-frequency resources of base stations (BSs) to meet the asymmetric and heterogeneous traffic demands while alleviating the inter-cell interference. We formulate the problem as a decentralized partially observable Markov decision process (Dec-POMDP) that maximizes the long-term expected sum rate under the users' packet dropping ratio constraints. In order to jointly optimize the global resources in a decentralized manner, we propose a federated reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm named federated Wolpertinger deep deterministic policy gradient (FWDDPG) algorithm. The BSs decide their local time-frequency configurations through RL algorithms and achieve global training via exchanging local RL models with their neighbors under a decentralized federated learning framework. Specifically, to deal with the large-scale discrete action space of each BS, we adopt a DDPG-based algorithm to generate actions in a continuous space, and then utilize Wolpertinger policy to reduce the mapping errors from continuous action space back to discrete action space. Simulation results demonstrate the superiority of our proposed algorithm to benchmark algorithms with respect to system sum rate.
Diversity-based Deep Reinforcement Learning Towards Multidimensional Difficulty for Fighting Game AI
Halina, Emily, Guzdial, Matthew
In fighting games, individual players of the same skill level often exhibit distinct strategies from one another through their gameplay. Despite this, the majority of AI agents for fighting games have only a single strategy for each "level" of difficulty. To make AI opponents more human-like, we'd ideally like to see multiple different strategies at each level of difficulty, a concept we refer to as "multidimensional" difficulty. In this paper, we introduce a diversity-based deep reinforcement learning approach for generating a set of agents of similar difficulty that utilize diverse strategies. We find this approach outperforms a baseline trained with specialized, human-authored reward functions in both diversity and performance.
Robotic Assembly Control Reconfiguration Based on Transfer Reinforcement Learning for Objects with Different Geometric Features
Gai, Yuhang, Wang, Bing, Zhang, Jiwen, Wu, Dan, Chen, Ken
Robotic force-based compliance control is a preferred approach to achieve high-precision assembly tasks. When the geometric features of assembly objects are asymmetric or irregular, reinforcement learning (RL) agents are gradually incorporated into the compliance controller to adapt to complex force-pose mapping which is hard to model analytically. Since force-pose mapping is strongly dependent on geometric features, a compliance controller is only optimal for current geometric features. To reduce the learning cost of assembly objects with different geometric features, this paper is devoted to answering how to reconfigure existing controllers for new assembly objects with different geometric features. In this paper, model-based parameters are first reconfigured based on the proposed Equivalent Theory of Compliance Law (ETCL). Then the RL agent is transferred based on the proposed Weighted Dimensional Policy Distillation (WDPD) method. The experiment results demonstrate that the control reconfiguration method costs less time and achieves better control performance, which confirms the validity of proposed methods.
The state-of-the-art review on resource allocation problem using artificial intelligence methods on various computing paradigms
Joloudari, Javad Hassannataj, Mojrian, Sanaz, Saadatfar, Hamid, Nodehi, Issa, Fazl, Fatemeh, shirkharkolaie, Sahar Khanjani, Alizadehsani, Roohallah, Kabir, H M Dipu, Tan, Ru-San, Acharya, U Rajendra
With the increasing growth of information through smart devices, increasing the quality level of human life requires various computational paradigms presentation including the Internet of Things, fog, and cloud. Between these three paradigms, the cloud computing paradigm as an emerging technology adds cloud layer services to the edge of the network so that resource allocation operations occur close to the end-user to reduce resource processing time and network traffic overhead. Hence, the resource allocation problem for its providers in terms of presenting a suitable platform, by using computational paradigms is considered a challenge. In general, resource allocation approaches are divided into two methods, including auction-based methods(goal, increase profits for service providers-increase user satisfaction and usability) and optimization-based methods(energy, cost, network exploitation, Runtime, reduction of time delay). In this paper, according to the latest scientific achievements, a comprehensive literature study (CLS) on artificial intelligence methods based on resource allocation optimization without considering auction-based methods in various computing environments are provided such as cloud computing, Vehicular Fog Computing, wireless, IoT, vehicular networks, 5G networks, vehicular cloud architecture,machine-to-machine communication(M2M),Train-to-Train(T2T) communication network, Peer-to-Peer(P2P) network. Since deep learning methods based on artificial intelligence are used as the most important methods in resource allocation problems; Therefore, in this paper, resource allocation approaches based on deep learning are also used in the mentioned computational environments such as deep reinforcement learning, Q-learning technique, reinforcement learning, online learning, and also Classical learning methods such as Bayesian learning, Cummins clustering, Markov decision process.
Synthesis of separation processes with reinforcement learning
van Kalmthout, Stephan C. P. A., Midgley, Laurence I., Franke, Meik B.
This paper shows the implementation of reinforcement learning (RL) in commercial flowsheet simulator software (Aspen Plus V12) for designing and optimising a distillation sequence. The aim of the SAC agent was to separate a hydrocarbon mixture in its individual components by utilising distillation. While doing so it tries to maximise the profit produced by the distillation sequence. All actions of the agent were set by the SAC agent in Python and communicated in Aspen Plus via an API. Here the distillation column was simulated by use of the build-in RADFRAC column. With this a connection was established for data transfer between Python and Aspen and the agent succeeded to show learning behaviour, while increasing profit. Although results were generated, the use of Aspen was slow (190 hours) and Aspen was found unsuitable for parallelisation. This makes that Aspen is incompatible for solving RL problems. Code and thesis are available at https://github.com/lollcat/Aspen-RL
Benchmarking Quality-Diversity Algorithms on Neuroevolution for Reinforcement Learning
Flageat, Manon, Lim, Bryan, Grillotti, Luca, Allard, Maxime, Smith, Simรณn C., Cully, Antoine
We present a Quality-Diversity benchmark suite for Deep Neuroevolution in Reinforcement Learning domains for robot control. The suite includes the definition of tasks, environments, behavioral descriptors, and fitness. We specify different benchmarks based on the complexity of both the task and the agent controlled by a deep neural network. The benchmark uses standard Quality-Diversity metrics, including coverage, QD-score, maximum fitness, and an archive profile metric to quantify the relation between coverage and fitness. We also present how to quantify the robustness of the solutions with respect to environmental stochasticity by introducing corrected versions of the same metrics. We believe that our benchmark is a valuable tool for the community to compare and improve their findings. The source code is available online: https://github.com/adaptive-intelligent-robotics/QDax
Fair and Efficient Distributed Edge Learning with Hybrid Multipath TCP
Pokhrel, Shiva Raj, Choi, Jinho, Walid, Anwar
The bottleneck of distributed edge learning (DEL) over wireless has shifted from computing to communication, primarily the aggregation-averaging (Agg-Avg) process of DEL. The existing transmission control protocol (TCP)-based data networking schemes for DEL are application-agnostic and fail to deliver adjustments according to application layer requirements. As a result, they introduce massive excess time and undesired issues such as unfairness and stragglers. Other prior mitigation solutions have significant limitations as they balance data flow rates from workers across paths but often incur imbalanced backlogs when the paths exhibit variance, causing stragglers. To facilitate a more productive DEL, we develop a hybrid multipath TCP (MPTCP) by combining model-based and deep reinforcement learning (DRL) based MPTCP for DEL that strives to realize quicker iteration of DEL and better fairness (by ameliorating stragglers). Hybrid MPTCP essentially integrates two radical TCP developments: i) successful existing model-based MPTCP control strategies and ii) advanced emerging DRL-based techniques, and introduces a novel hybrid MPTCP data transport for easing the communication of the Agg-Avg process. Extensive emulation results demonstrate that the proposed hybrid MPTCP can overcome excess time consumption and ameliorate the application layer unfairness of DEL effectively without injecting additional inconstancy and stragglers.