Overview of Model-Based Reinforcement Learning
Model-based reinforcement learning involves building a model of the environment’s dynamics. The agent uses this model to simulate experiences and make decisions. There are two primary components:
- Model Learning: The agent learns a model of the environment that predicts the next state and reward given the current state and action.
- Planning: The agent uses the learned model to simulate and evaluate potential future actions to choose the best policy.
Characteristics:
- Explicit model: The agent constructs and utilizes a model of the environment.
- Planning: The agent uses the model to plan and simulate future states and rewards.
- Examples: Dyna-Q, Model-Based Value Iteration.
Differences between Model-free and Model-based Reinforcement Learning
Reinforcement learning (RL) is a type of machine learning where an agent learns to make decisions by performing actions in an environment to maximize some notion of cumulative reward. Two primary approaches in RL are model-free and model-based reinforcement learning. This article explores the distinctions between these two methodologies.