Scenario-Assisted Deep Reinforcement Learning

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to incorporate human expert knowledge into deep reinforcement learning by enhancing reward calculation with scenario-based modeling, aiming for more transparent and constraint-compliant agents.

Contribution

It proposes a novel approach combining scenario-assisted modeling with reinforcement learning to improve transparency and adherence to constraints.

Findings

Promising results in internet congestion control case-study

Enhanced agent compliance with constraints

Improved transparency and maintainability

Abstract

Deep reinforcement learning has proven remarkably useful in training agents from unstructured data. However, the opacity of the produced agents makes it difficult to ensure that they adhere to various requirements posed by human engineers. In this work-in-progress report, we propose a technique for enhancing the reinforcement learning training process (specifically, its reward calculation), in a way that allows human engineers to directly contribute their expert knowledge, making the agent under training more likely to comply with various relevant constraints. Moreover, our proposed approach allows formulating these constraints using advanced model engineering techniques, such as scenario-based modeling. This mix of black-box learning-based tools with classical modeling approaches could produce systems that are effective and efficient, but are also more transparent and maintainable. We evaluated our technique using a case-study from the domain of internet congestion control, obtaining promising results.