Title
Value learning from trajectory optimization and Sobolev descent: A step toward reinforcement learning with superlinear convergence properties
Abstract
The recent successes in deep reinforcement learning largely rely on the capabilities of generating masses of data, which in turn implies the use of a simulator. In particular, current progress in multi body dynamic simulators are under-pinning the implementation of reinforcement learning for end-to-end control of robotic systems. Yet simulators are mostly considered as black boxes while we have the knowledge to make them produce a richer information. In this paper, we are proposing to use the derivatives of the simulator to help with the convergence of the learning. For that, we combine model-based trajectory optimization to produce informative trials using 1st- and 2nd-order simulation derivatives. These locally-optimal runs give fair estimates of the value function and its derivatives, that we use to accelerate the convergence of the critics using Sobolev learning. We empirically demonstrate that the algorithm leads to a faster and more accurate estimation of the value function. The resulting value estimate is used in model-predictive controller as a proxy for shortening the preview horizon. We believe that it is also a first step toward superlinear reinforcement learning algorithm using simulation derivatives, that we need for end-to-end legged locomotion.
Year
DOI
Venue
2022
10.1109/ICRA46639.2022.9811993
IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation
DocType
Volume
Issue
Conference
2022
1
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
0
0.34
0
Authors
5
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Amit Parag100.34
Sébastien Kleff200.34
Léo Saci300.34
Nicolas Mansard449039.67
Olivier Stasse5143885.86