Reinforcement Learning From Scratch

The significantly expanded and updated new edition of a widely used text on reinforcement learning, one of the most active research areas in artificial intelligence. Reinforcement learning, one of the most active research areas in artificial intelligence, is a computational approach to learning whereby an agent tries to maximize the total amount of reward it receives while interacting with a complex, uncertain environment. In Reinforcement Learning, Richard Sutton and Andrew Barto provide a clear and simple account of the field's key ideas and algorithms. This second edition has been significantly expanded and updated, presenting new topics and updating coverage of other topics. Like the first edition, this second edition focuses on core online learning algorithms, with the more mathematical material set off in shaded boxes. Part I covers as much of reinforcement learning as possible without going beyond the tabular case for which exact solutions can be found. Many algorithms presented in this part are new to the second edition, including UCB, Expected Sarsa, and Double Learning. Part II extends these ideas to function approximation, with new sections on such topics as artificial neural networks and the Fourier basis, and offers expanded treatment of off-policy learning and policy-gradient methods. Part III has new chapters on reinforcement learning's relationships to psychology and neuroscience, as well as an updated case-studies chapter including AlphaGo and AlphaGo Zero, Atari game playing, and IBM Watson's wagering strategy. The final chapter discusses the future societal impacts of reinforcement learning.

A hands-on guide enriched with examples to master deep reinforcement learning algorithms with Python Key Features Your entry point into the world of artificial intelligence using the power of Python An example-rich guide to master various RL and DRL algorithms Explore various state-of-the-art architectures along with math Book Description Reinforcement Learning (RL) is the trending and most promising branch of artificial intelligence. Hands-On Reinforcement learning with Python will help you master not only the basic reinforcement learning algorithms but also the advanced deep reinforcement learning algorithms. The book starts with an introduction to Reinforcement Learning followed by OpenAI Gym, and TensorFlow. You will then explore various RL algorithms and concepts, such as Markov Decision Process, Monte Carlo methods, and dynamic programming, including value and policy iteration. This example-rich guide will introduce you to deep reinforcement learning algorithms, such as Dueling DQN, DRQN, A3C, PPO, and TRPO. You will also learn about imagination-augmented agents, learning from human preference, DQfD, HER, and many more of the recent advancements in reinforcement learning. By the end of the book, you will have all the knowledge and experience needed to implement reinforcement learning and deep reinforcement learning in your projects, and you will be all set to enter the world of artificial intelligence. What you will learn Understand the basics of reinforcement learning methods, algorithms, and elements Train an agent to walk using OpenAI Gym and Tensorflow Understand the Markov Decision Process, Bellman’s optimality, and TD learning Solve multi-armed-bandit problems using various algorithms Master deep learning algorithms, such as RNN, LSTM, and CNN with applications Build intelligent agents using the DRQN algorithm to play the Doom game Teach agents to play the Lunar Lander game using DDPG Train an agent to win a car racing game using dueling DQN Who this book is for If you’re a machine learning developer or deep learning enthusiast interested in artificial intelligence and want to learn about reinforcement learning from scratch, this book is for you. Some knowledge of linear algebra, calculus, and the Python programming language will help you understand the concepts covered in this book.

A hands-on, application-based introduction to machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) that guides young readers through creating compelling AI-powered games and applications using the Scratch programming language. Machine learning (also known as ML) is one of the building blocks of AI, or artificial intelligence. AI is based on the idea that computers can learn on their own, with your help. Machine Learning for Kids will introduce you to machine learning, painlessly. With this book and its free, Scratch-based, award-winning companion website, you'll see how easy it is to add machine learning to your own projects. You don't even need to know how to code! As you work through the book you'll discover how machine learning systems can be taught to recognize text, images, numbers, and sounds, and how to train your models to improve their accuracy. You'll turn your models into fun computer games and apps, and see what happens when they get confused by bad data. You'll build 13 projects step-by-step from the ground up, including: • Rock, Paper, Scissors game that recognizes your hand shapes • An app that recommends movies based on other movies that you like • A computer character that reacts to insults and compliments • An interactive virtual assistant (like Siri or Alexa) that obeys commands • An AI version of Pac-Man, with a smart character that knows how to avoid ghosts NOTE: This book includes a Scratch tutorial for beginners, and step-by-step instructions for every project. Ages 12+

Develop self-learning algorithms and agents using TensorFlow and other Python tools, frameworks, and libraries Key FeaturesLearn, develop, and deploy advanced reinforcement learning algorithms to solve a variety of tasksUnderstand and develop model-free and model-based algorithms for building self-learning agentsWork with advanced Reinforcement Learning concepts and algorithms such as imitation learning and evolution strategiesBook Description Reinforcement Learning (RL) is a popular and promising branch of AI that involves making smarter models and agents that can automatically determine ideal behavior based on changing requirements. This book will help you master RL algorithms and understand their implementation as you build self-learning agents. Starting with an introduction to the tools, libraries, and setup needed to work in the RL environment, this book covers the building blocks of RL and delves into value-based methods, such as the application of Q-learning and SARSA algorithms. You'll learn how to use a combination of Q-learning and neural networks to solve complex problems. Furthermore, you'll study the policy gradient methods, TRPO, and PPO, to improve performance and stability, before moving on to the DDPG and TD3 deterministic algorithms. This book also covers how imitation learning techniques work and how Dagger can teach an agent to drive. You'll discover evolutionary strategies and black-box optimization techniques, and see how they can improve RL algorithms. Finally, you'll get to grips with exploration approaches, such as UCB and UCB1, and develop a meta-algorithm called ESBAS. By the end of the book, you'll have worked with key RL algorithms to overcome challenges in real-world applications, and be part of the RL research community. What you will learnDevelop an agent to play CartPole using the OpenAI Gym interfaceDiscover the model-based reinforcement learning paradigmSolve the Frozen Lake problem with dynamic programmingExplore Q-learning and SARSA with a view to playing a taxi gameApply Deep Q-Networks (DQNs) to Atari games using GymStudy policy gradient algorithms, including Actor-Critic and REINFORCEUnderstand and apply PPO and TRPO in continuous locomotion environmentsGet to grips with evolution strategies for solving the lunar lander problemWho this book is for If you are an AI researcher, deep learning user, or anyone who wants to learn reinforcement learning from scratch, this book is for you. You’ll also find this reinforcement learning book useful if you want to learn about the advancements in the field. Working knowledge of Python is necessary.

Get hands-on experience in creating state-of-the-art reinforcement learning agents using TensorFlow and RLlib to solve complex real-world business and industry problems with the help of expert tips and best practices Key FeaturesUnderstand how large-scale state-of-the-art RL algorithms and approaches workApply RL to solve complex problems in marketing, robotics, supply chain, finance, cybersecurity, and moreExplore tips and best practices from experts that will enable you to overcome real-world RL challengesBook Description Reinforcement learning (RL) is a field of artificial intelligence (AI) used for creating self-learning autonomous agents. Building on a strong theoretical foundation, this book takes a practical approach and uses examples inspired by real-world industry problems to teach you about state-of-the-art RL. Starting with bandit problems, Markov decision processes, and dynamic programming, the book provides an in-depth review of the classical RL techniques, such as Monte Carlo methods and temporal-difference learning. After that, you will learn about deep Q-learning, policy gradient algorithms, actor-critic methods, model-based methods, and multi-agent reinforcement learning. Then, you'll be introduced to some of the key approaches behind the most successful RL implementations, such as domain randomization and curiosity-driven learning. As you advance, you’ll explore many novel algorithms with advanced implementations using modern Python libraries such as TensorFlow and Ray’s RLlib package. You’ll also find out how to implement RL in areas such as robotics, supply chain management, marketing, finance, smart cities, and cybersecurity while assessing the trade-offs between different approaches and avoiding common pitfalls. By the end of this book, you’ll have mastered how to train and deploy your own RL agents for solving RL problems. What you will learnModel and solve complex sequential decision-making problems using RLDevelop a solid understanding of how state-of-the-art RL methods workUse Python and TensorFlow to code RL algorithms from scratchParallelize and scale up your RL implementations using Ray's RLlib packageGet in-depth knowledge of a wide variety of RL topicsUnderstand the trade-offs between different RL approachesDiscover and address the challenges of implementing RL in the real worldWho this book is for This book is for expert machine learning practitioners and researchers looking to focus on hands-on reinforcement learning with Python by implementing advanced deep reinforcement learning concepts in real-world projects. Reinforcement learning experts who want to advance their knowledge to tackle large-scale and complex sequential decision-making problems will also find this book useful. Working knowledge of Python programming and deep learning along with prior experience in reinforcement learning is required.

In ancient games such as chess or go, the most brilliant players can improve by studying the strategies produced by a machine. Robotic systems practice their own movements. In arcade games, agents capable of learning reach superhuman levels within a few hours. How do these spectacular reinforcement learning algorithms work? With easy-to-understand explanations and clear examples in Java and Greenfoot, you can acquire the principles of reinforcement learning and apply them in your own intelligent agents. Greenfoot (M.Kölling, King's College London) and the hamster model (D. Bohles, University of Oldenburg) are simple but also powerful didactic tools that were developed to convey basic programming concepts. The result is an accessible introduction into machine learning that concentrates on reinforcement learning. Taking the reader through the steps of developing intelligent agents, from the very basics to advanced aspects, touching on a variety of machine learning algorithms along the way, one is allowed to play along, experiment, and add their own ideas and experiments.

Reinforcement learning (RL) will deliver one of the biggest breakthroughs in AI over the next decade, enabling algorithms to learn from their environment to achieve arbitrary goals. This exciting development avoids constraints found in traditional machine learning (ML) algorithms. This practical book shows data science and AI professionals how to learn by reinforcement and enable a machine to learn by itself. Author Phil Winder of Winder Research covers everything from basic building blocks to state-of-the-art practices. You'll explore the current state of RL, focus on industrial applications, learn numerous algorithms, and benefit from dedicated chapters on deploying RL solutions to production. This is no cookbook; doesn't shy away from math and expects familiarity with ML. Learn what RL is and how the algorithms help solve problems Become grounded in RL fundamentals including Markov decision processes, dynamic programming, and temporal difference learning Dive deep into a range of value and policy gradient methods Apply advanced RL solutions such as meta learning, hierarchical learning, multi-agent, and imitation learning Understand cutting-edge deep RL algorithms including Rainbow, PPO, TD3, SAC, and more Get practical examples through the accompanying website

Grokking Deep Reinforcement Learning uses engaging exercises to teach you how to build deep learning systems. This book combines annotated Python code with intuitive explanations to explore DRL techniques. You’ll see how algorithms function and learn to develop your own DRL agents using evaluative feedback. Summary We all learn through trial and error. We avoid the things that cause us to experience pain and failure. We embrace and build on the things that give us reward and success. This common pattern is the foundation of deep reinforcement learning: building machine learning systems that explore and learn based on the responses of the environment. Grokking Deep Reinforcement Learning introduces this powerful machine learning approach, using examples, illustrations, exercises, and crystal-clear teaching. You'll love the perfectly paced teaching and the clever, engaging writing style as you dig into this awesome exploration of reinforcement learning fundamentals, effective deep learning techniques, and practical applications in this emerging field. Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications. About the technology We learn by interacting with our environment, and the rewards or punishments we experience guide our future behavior. Deep reinforcement learning brings that same natural process to artificial intelligence, analyzing results to uncover the most efficient ways forward. DRL agents can improve marketing campaigns, predict stock performance, and beat grand masters in Go and chess. About the book Grokking Deep Reinforcement Learning uses engaging exercises to teach you how to build deep learning systems. This book combines annotated Python code with intuitive explanations to explore DRL techniques. You’ll see how algorithms function and learn to develop your own DRL agents using evaluative feedback. What's inside An introduction to reinforcement learning DRL agents with human-like behaviors Applying DRL to complex situations About the reader For developers with basic deep learning experience. About the author Miguel Morales works on reinforcement learning at Lockheed Martin and is an instructor for the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Reinforcement Learning and Decision Making course. Table of Contents 1 Introduction to deep reinforcement learning 2 Mathematical foundations of reinforcement learning 3 Balancing immediate and long-term goals 4 Balancing the gathering and use of information 5 Evaluating agents’ behaviors 6 Improving agents’ behaviors 7 Achieving goals more effectively and efficiently 8 Introduction to value-based deep reinforcement learning 9 More stable value-based methods 10 Sample-efficient value-based methods 11 Policy-gradient and actor-critic methods 12 Advanced actor-critic methods 13 Toward artificial general intelligence