Enhanced Policy Adaptation Through Directed Explorative Learning

In this paper, we propose an integrated policy learning framework that fuses iterative learning control (ILC) and reinforcement learning. Integration is accomplished at the exploration level of the reinforcement learning algorithm. The proposed algorithm combines fast convergence properties of iterative learning control and robustness of reinforcement learning. This way, the advantages of both approaches are retained while overcoming their respective limitations. The proposed approach was verified in simulation and in real robot experiments on three challenging motion optimization problems.