Reinforcement Learning: An Overview
Reinforcement Learning (RL) is a branch of machine learning focused on making
decisions to maximize cumulative rewards in a given situation. Unlike supervised
learning, which relies on a training dataset with predefined answers, RL involves
learning through experience. In RL, an agent learns to achieve a goal in an
uncertain, potentially complex environment by performing actions and receiving
feedback through rewards or penalties.
Key Concepts of Reinforcement Learning
Agent: The learner or decision-maker. (e.g., a robot, game character).
Environment: Everything the agent interacts with. (e.g., a maze, a game, or
a simulated world).
State: A specific situation in which the agent finds itself. (e.g., the robot's
position in the maze).
Action: All possible moves the agent can make. (e.g., move up, down, left, or
right).
Reward: Feedback from the environment based on the action taken.
WHAT ARE REWARDS AND PENALTIES IN RL?
Rewards: Positive feedback given to the agent when it performs an action
that helps achieve its goal.
o Example: A robot gets a reward of +10 points for successfully
navigating to the end of a maze.
Penalties: Negative feedback given to the agent when it makes a mistake or
takes an action that hinders its progress.
o Example: The same robot gets a penalty of -5 points if it crashes into a
wall.
Example to Understand Rewards and Penalties:
Imagine you are training a robot dog to fetch a ball:
If the robot moves toward the ball, it gets a reward (e.g., +1 point).
If the robot moves away from the ball, it gets a penalty (e.g., -1 point).
If it picks up the ball and returns it to you, it gets a big reward (e.g., +50
points).
The robot learns through trial and error by trying different actions, receiving
feedback (rewards or penalties), and gradually improving its decisions to maximize
its total score.
How RL is Different from Other Learning:
No predefined answers: Unlike supervised learning, where a dataset
contains labeled examples (e.g., input and correct output), RL doesn’t give
the agent direct instructions on what to do.
Learning through interaction: The agent learns by exploring the
environment, taking actions, and observing their consequences.
Key Idea:
The agent learns a policy (a strategy) that helps it decide the best action to take in
each situation. Over time, it becomes better at selecting actions that maximize
long-term rewards.
ANOTHER Example:
Let’s train a robot to cross a street:
1. State: The robot’s current position and whether the traffic light is green or
red.
2. Actions: Walk, stop, or wait.
3. Reward:
o +10 for safely crossing.
o -10 for walking when the light is red (penalty).
By repeatedly trying actions and adjusting based on feedback, the robot learns
when to cross safely.
Model-Based RL involves creating or learning a model of
the environment. This model predicts: How the environment
changes when actions are taken (state transitions).
The agent uses this model to simulate outcomes and plan its
actions without directly interacting with the environment all the
time.
When to Use Model-Based RL:
1. Well-Defined and Unchanging Environments: Example:
Chess or other board games where rules are fixed and well-
understood.
Model-Free RL skips building a model of the environment.
Instead, the agent learns through trial and error by directly
interacting with the environment. It gradually learns the best
actions to take by observing the rewards or penalties it
receives.
When to Use Model-Free RL:
1. Large, Complex, and Unpredictable Environments:
Example: A self-driving car navigating traffic, where
conditions vary widely (weather, road rules, other vehicles).
In summary:
Model-Based RL is ideal for environments that are predictable and where
real-world testing is costly or impractical.
Model-Free RL shines in environments that are unpredictable, complex, or
easy to interact with directly for learning.
