arXiv Machine Learning

Learning Rational Strategies for Temporal Objectives in Multi-Agent Systems

The paper introduces a method for rational synthesis in stochastic multi‑agent systems with unknown dynamics, where each agent has a probabilistic temporal objective expressed in Probabilistic Linear Temporal Logic on Finite Traces. It formulates per‑agent rational synthesis as finding a strategy profile that satisfies the designated agent’s objective while also constituting a stable solution under chosen equilibrium concepts such as Nash or subgame‑perfect equilibrium. The authors provide conditional convergence guarantees for tabular Nash‑Q learning, certify satisfaction with finite‑sample confidence bounds, and evaluate strategic stability via approximate best‑response checking, validating the approach on eight general‑sum concurrent stochastic games.

arXiv Machine Learning
Aug 31

Aspiration-based Perturbed Learning Automata in Games with Noisy Utility Measurements. Part A: Stochastic Stability in Non-zero-Sum Games

The paper introduces aspiration-based perturbed learning automata (APLA), a payoff‑based learning scheme that incorporates an aspiration factor to reinforce action selection in distributed multi‑player games. It presents a stochastic stability analysis of APLA in positive‑utility games with noisy observations, establishing that the infinite‑dimensional Markov chain induced by the dynamics can be reduced to a finite‑dimensional one. This work extends previous results beyond potential and coordination games to generic non‑zero‑sum games, with a second part focusing on weakly acyclic games.

By Georgios C. Chasparis
arXiv Machine Learning
Aug 24

Smart Exploration in Reinforcement Learning using Bounded Uncertainty Models

The paper introduces BUMEX, a reinforcement learning exploration strategy that leverages a set of prior models containing the true transition kernel and reward function. By optimizing over this model set, the method derives upper and lower bounds on the Q‑function to guide exploration, providing theoretical guarantees of convergence to the optimal policy. When the model set follows a bounded‑parameter MDP structure, the optimization becomes convex, enabling finite‑time convergence under mild assumptions and demonstrating accelerated learning in simulations.

By J. S. van Hulst, W. P. M. H. Heemels, D. J. Antunes
arXiv Machine Learning
Sep 14

Independent Learning of Nash Equilibria in Partially Observable Markov Potential Games with Decoupled Dynamics

The paper investigates learning Nash equilibria in partially observable Markov games (POMGs) where agents cannot fully observe the state. By focusing on a subclass with independent state transitions and a Markov potential game structure, the authors propose an independent learning algorithm that allows agents to converge to an approximate Nash equilibrium using only their own observations and actions, without communication. Under a filter stability assumption, finite‑history policies are shown to approximate the POMG sufficiently, enabling a surrogate near‑potential Markov game and yielding quasi‑polynomial sample and computational complexity.

By Philip Jordan, Maryam Kamgarpour
arXiv Machine Learning
Sep 21

Efficient Bayes-Adaptive Reinforcement Learning with Temporal Logic Specifications

The paper introduces an end‑to‑end model‑based reinforcement learning algorithm that synthesises policies satisfying Linear Temporal Logic (LTL) specifications in unknown environments. It synchronises a Limit‑Deterministic Büchi Automaton (LDBA) with a Bayes‑Adaptive Markov Decision Process (BAMDP) and proposes a novel Bayes‑Adaptive Monte‑Carlo Planning (BAMCP) method for approximate Bayes‑optimal strategy synthesis. Experiments on finite and infinite‑horizon tasks show improved property satisfaction and sample efficiency compared to model‑free baselines, and ablation studies confirm the advantage of the new BAMCP over classical variants, including reduced task violations in cautious RL settings.

By Jonathan Hau, Alessandro Abate