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Title: Model-Free Reinforcement Learning for Branching Markov Decision Processes
We study reinforcement learning for the optimal control of Branching Markov Decision Processes (BMDPs), a natural extension of (multitype) Branching Markov Chains (BMCs). The state of a (discrete-time) BMCs is a collection of entities of various types that, while spawning other entities, generate a payoff. In comparison with BMCs, where the evolution of a each entity of the same type follows the same probabilistic pattern, BMDPs allow an external controller to pick from a range of options. This permits us to study the best/worst behaviour of the system. We generalise model-free reinforcement learning techniques to compute an optimal control strategy of an unknown BMDP in the limit. We present results of an implementation that demonstrate the practicality of the approach.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2009022
NSF-PAR ID:
10329429
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Editor(s):
Silva, A.; Leino, K.R.M.
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Computer Aided Verification. CAV 2021.
Page Range / eLocation ID:
651-673
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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