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Writer's pictureH Peter Alesso

Reinforcement Learning

Updated: Jul 31, 2023

Reinforcement learning is a type of machine learning that enables an agent to improve its actions by interacting with its environment. Unlike supervised learning, which requires labeled data, or unsupervised learning, which focuses on finding patterns in data, reinforcement learning involves trial and error to learn how to take actions in an environment to maximize rewards. In this post, we'll explore reinforcement learning and the algorithms that support it.

Reinforcement learning is inspired by how humans learn through experience. The goal is to develop an agent that can learn to make decisions based on its environment and the rewards it receives for its actions. The agent takes actions in its environment, receives feedback in the form of rewards or punishments, and learns from the experience to improve its decision-making process.

The reward function is a crucial component of reinforcement learning. It determines the value of each state of the environment and the action taken by the agent in that state. The agent aims to maximize the rewards it receives by taking actions that lead to the highest possible reward.

Reinforcement learning algorithms support the agent in learning and enhancing its decision-making process. The most common algorithms are Q-learning and SARSA. Q-learning is a model-free algorithm that learns the optimal action-value function for the agent. The action-value function calculates the expected reward for each action the agent can take in a given state. SARSA is another model-free algorithm that learns the optimal policy for the agent.


The policy maps each state to the optimal action the agent should take in that state. Reinforcement learning has many applications, including robotics, game playing, and autonomous vehicles. In robotics, reinforcement learning can train robots to perform complex tasks, such as grasping objects or walking. In game playing, reinforcement learning has been used to train agents to play games like Go, chess, and poker. In autonomous vehicles, reinforcement learning can be used to train the vehicle to make decisions based on its environment, such as avoiding obstacles and navigating complex road systems.

In conclusion, reinforcement learning is a powerful machine learning technique that enables agents to learn and improve through interactions with their environment. The reward function and reinforcement learning algorithms are the key components of this process. Reinforcement learning has many applications in various industries, and as technology evolves, we can expect to see even more innovative applications in the future.


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