Functions that Emerge through End-to-end Reinforcement Learning

Recently, triggered by the impressive results in TV-games or game of Go by Google DeepMind, end-to-end reinforcement learning (RL) is collecting attentions. Although little is known, the author’s group has propounded this framework for around 20 years and already has shown a variety of functions that emerge in a neural network (NN) through RL. In this paper, they are introduced again at this timing. “Function Modularization” approach is deeply penetrated subconsciously. The inputs and outputs for a learning system can be raw sensor signals and motor commands. “State space” or “action space” generally used in RL show the existence of functional modules. That has limited reinforcement learning to learning only for the action-planning module. In order to extend reinforcement learning to learning of the entire function on a huge degree of freedom of a massively parallel learning system and to explain or develop human-like intelligence, the author has believed that end-to-end RL from sensors to motors using a recurrent NN (RNN) becomes an essential key. Especially in the higher functions, since their inputs or outputs are difficult to decide, this approach is very effective by being free from the need to decide them. The functions that emerge, we have confirmed, through RL using a NN cover a broad range from real robot learning with raw camera pixel inputs to acquisition of dynamic functions in a RNN. Those are (1)image recognition, (2)color constancy (optical illusion), (3)sensor motion (active recognition), (4)hand-eye coordination and hand reaching movement, (5)explanation of brain activities, (6)communication, (7)knowledge transfer, (8)memory, (9)selective attention, (10)prediction, (11)exploration. The end-to-end RL enables the emergence of very flexible comprehensive functions that consider many things in parallel although it is difficult to give the boundary of each function clearly.