Reinforcement Learning and Control Quiz

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In reinforcement learning, an agent observes state $s_t$ and chooses action $a_t$ at each discrete time. What does the Markov assumption state?

The reward at time $t$ depends on the previous state and action.

The state at time $t$ depends on all previous states and actions.

The state at time $t+1$ depends only on the current state and action. (correct)

The state at time $t+1$ depends on all previous states and actions.

What is the immediate reward in the example of TD-Gammon learning to play Backgammon?

+100 if win, -100 if lose, 0 for all other states (correct)

+1 if win, -1 if lose, 0 for all other states

+10 if win, -10 if lose, 0 for all other states

+50 if win, -50 if lose, 0 for all other states

What does the Q function represent in reinforcement learning?

The value of the current state $s$.

The probability of taking action $a$ in state $s$.

The expected future rewards of taking action $a$ in state $s$ and then following the optimal policy. (correct)

The immediate reward received after taking action $a$ in state $s$.

What is the main purpose of the value function in reinforcement learning?

To estimate how good it is for the agent to be in a particular state. Signup and view all the answers

What is the training rule used to learn the Q function in reinforcement learning for deterministic worlds?

Q-learning algorithm Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of Markov Decision Processes in reinforcement learning.

Markov Decision Processes assume a finite set of states $S$ and a set of actions $A$. At each discrete time, the agent observes state $s_t \in S$ and chooses action $a_t \in A$, then receives immediate reward $r_t$ and the state changes to $s_{t+1}$. The Markov assumption states that $s_{t+1} = \delta(s_t, a_t)$ and $r_t = r(s_t, a_t)$, meaning that the reward and the next state only depend on the current state and action. The functions $\delta$ and $r$ may be nondeterministic and not necessarily known to the agent. Signup and view all the answers

What is the learning task of the agent in reinforcement learning?

The agent's learning task is to learn a policy that maximizes the cumulative reward over time. This involves learning the value function or the Q function, which represent the expected cumulative reward of taking a particular action in a particular state. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Q function and its significance in reinforcement learning?

The Q function, denoted as $Q(s, a)$, represents the expected cumulative reward of taking action $a$ in state $s$ and then following the optimal policy thereafter. It is significant in reinforcement learning as it guides the agent to make decisions that maximize the long-term reward. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the training rule for learning the Q function in reinforcement learning for deterministic worlds.

The training rule for learning the Q function in deterministic worlds is the Q-learning algorithm. It involves updating the Q-value of a state-action pair based on the immediate reward and the maximum Q-value of the next state. The update rule is given by: $Q(s, a) \leftarrow Q(s, a) + \alpha [r + \gamma \max_{a'} Q(s', a') - Q(s, a)]$, where $r$ is the immediate reward, $\alpha$ is the learning rate, $\gamma$ is the discount factor, and $s'$ is the next state after taking action $a$ in state $s$. Signup and view all the answers

What are the problem characteristics of reinforcement learning?

Reinforcement learning problems exhibit several characteristics, including delayed reward, opportunity for active exploration, the possibility that the state is only partially observable, and the need to learn multiple tasks with the same sensors and effectors. Signup and view all the answers