arXiv:2604.06039math.OCcs.LG2026-04

提出新算法VMD,提升强化学习值函数优化效率与稳定性。

Value Mirror Descent for Reinforcement Learning

  • 将凸优化中的镜面下降融入经典值迭代框架。
  • 在生成模型下实现近似最优样本复杂度,高精度时更优。
  • 保持策略间散度有界,适合离线训练后持续在线学习。

针对具有状态空间S、动作空间A、折扣因子γ∈(0,1)和[0,1]区间代价的折扣马尔可夫决策过程,本文提出一种新型值优化方法——值镜面下降(VMD),将凸优化中的镜面下降思想融入经典值迭代框架。在确定性设定下,VMD具有线性收敛性;在随机设定下,提出带方差缩减的随机变体SVMD,适用于生成模型。对于一般凸正则项,SVMD达到近似最优样本复杂度$ ilde{O}(|S||A|(1-γ)^{-3}ε^{-2})$。此外,证明了生成策略与最优策略间的Bregman散度在整个迭代过程中始终有界,该性质在现有随机值迭代方法中缺失,对离线训练后有效进行在线持续学习至关重要。在强凸正则项下,样本复杂度提升至$ ilde{O}(|S||A|(1-γ)^{-5}ε^{-1})$,在高精度场景表现更优。最终,证明了生成策略收敛到最优策略。整体方法、分析与保证为强化学习与优化领域带来新贡献。

原文摘要 · Abstract (English)

Value iteration-type methods have been extensively studied for computing a nearly optimal value function in reinforcement learning (RL). Under a generative sampling model, these methods can achieve sharper sample complexity than policy optimization approaches, particularly in their dependence on the discount factor. In practice, they are often employed for offline training or in simulated environments. In this paper, we consider discounted Markov decision processes with state space S, action space A, discount factor $γ\in(0,1)$ and costs in $[0,1]$. We introduce a novel value optimization method, termed value mirror descent (VMD), which integrates mirror descent from convex optimization into the classical value iteration framework. In the deterministic setting with known transition kernels, we show that VMD converges linearly. For the stochastic setting with a generative model, we develop a stochastic variant, SVMD, which incorporates variance reduction commonly used in stochastic value iteration-type methods. For RL problems with general convex regularizers, SVMD attains a near-optimal sample complexity of $\tilde{O}(|S||A|(1-γ)^{-3}ε^{-2})$. Moreover, we establish that the Bregman divergence between the generated and optimal policies remains bounded throughout the iterations. This property is absent in existing stochastic value iteration-type methods but is important for enabling effective online (continual) learning following offline training. Under a strongly convex regularizer, SVMD achieves sample complexity of $\tilde{O}(|S||A|(1-γ)^{-5}ε^{-1})$, improving performance in the high-accuracy regime. Furthermore, we prove convergence of the generated policy to the optimal policy. Overall, the proposed method, its analysis, and the resulting guarantees, constitute new contributions to the RL and optimization literature.

强化学习值迭代镜面下降样本复杂度

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