Active Exploration
Active exploration in reinforcement learning focuses on efficiently gathering information to improve decision-making in uncertain environments, aiming to balance exploration of unknown states with exploitation of current knowledge. Current research emphasizes developing algorithms that enhance exploration efficiency, often employing techniques like Bayesian optimization, Thompson sampling, and various deep reinforcement learning architectures (e.g., Proximal Policy Optimization, Twin Delayed Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient) to guide the exploration process. This research is significant for improving the sample efficiency of reinforcement learning agents across diverse applications, from robotics and autonomous navigation to scientific experimentation and personalized recommendations, ultimately leading to more robust and adaptable intelligent systems.
Papers
Is Exploration All You Need? Effective Exploration Characteristics for Transfer in Reinforcement Learning
Jonathan C. Balloch, Rishav Bhagat, Geigh Zollicoffer, Ruoran Jia, Julia Kim, Mark O. Riedl
Active Exploration in Bayesian Model-based Reinforcement Learning for Robot Manipulation
Carlos Plou, Ana C. Murillo, Ruben Martinez-Cantin