Questions tagged [potential-reward-shaping]
For questions about potential-based reward shaping, which was introduced in the paper "Policy Invariance Under Reward Transformations: Theory and Application to Reward Shaping" by Andrew Y. Ng et al, in 1999.
5
questions
0
votes
0
answers
24
views
Using reinforcement learning to optimize a state-based potential function
I am using reinforcement learning for a project, and the objective function I want to optimize is a potential-based function. In other words, it is preferable for the agent to move to positions with ...
6
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How to improve the reward signal when the rewards are sparse?
In cases where the reward is delayed, this can negatively impact a models ability to do proper credit assignment. In the case of a sparse reward, are there ways in which this can be negated?
In a ...
3
votes
1
answer
158
views
Expressing Arbitrary Reward Functions as Potential-Based Advice (PBA)
I am trying to reproduce the results for the simple grid-world environment in [1]. But it turns out that using a dynamically learned PBA makes the performance worse and I cannot obtain the results ...
2
votes
1
answer
578
views
Why does potential-based reward shaping seem to alter the optimal policy in this case?
It is known that every potential function won't alter the optimal policy [1]. I lack of understanding why is that.
The definition:
$$R' = R + F,$$ with $$F = \gamma\Phi(s') - \Phi(s),$$
where, let's ...
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What should I do when the potential value of a state is too high?
I'm working on a Reinforcement Learning task where I use reward shaping as proposed in the paper Policy invariance under reward transformations:
Theory and application to reward shaping (1999) by ...