Feature-Based Belief Aggregation for Partially Observable Markov Decision Problems

Fuente: arXiv
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Hauptverfasser: Li, Yuchao, Hammar, Kim, Bertsekas, Dimitri
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2025
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author Li, Yuchao
Hammar, Kim
Bertsekas, Dimitri
author_facet Li, Yuchao
Hammar, Kim
Bertsekas, Dimitri
contents We consider a finite-state partially observable Markov decision problem (POMDP) with an infinite horizon and a discounted cost, and we propose a new method for computing a cost function approximation that is based on features and aggregation. In particular, using the classical belief-space formulation, we construct a related Markov decision problem (MDP) by first aggregating the unobservable states into feature states, and then introducing representative beliefs over these feature states. This two-stage aggregation approach facilitates the use of dynamic programming methods for solving the aggregate problem and provides additional design flexibility. The optimal cost function of the aggregate problem can in turn be used within an on-line approximation in value space scheme for the original POMDP. We derive a new bound on the approximation error of our scheme. In addition, we establish conditions under which the cost function approximation provides a lower bound for the optimal cost. Finally, we present a biased aggregation approach, which leverages an optimal cost function estimate to improve the quality of the approximation error of the aggregate problem.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_04646
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Feature-Based Belief Aggregation for Partially Observable Markov Decision Problems
Li, Yuchao
Hammar, Kim
Bertsekas, Dimitri
Systems and Control
We consider a finite-state partially observable Markov decision problem (POMDP) with an infinite horizon and a discounted cost, and we propose a new method for computing a cost function approximation that is based on features and aggregation. In particular, using the classical belief-space formulation, we construct a related Markov decision problem (MDP) by first aggregating the unobservable states into feature states, and then introducing representative beliefs over these feature states. This two-stage aggregation approach facilitates the use of dynamic programming methods for solving the aggregate problem and provides additional design flexibility. The optimal cost function of the aggregate problem can in turn be used within an on-line approximation in value space scheme for the original POMDP. We derive a new bound on the approximation error of our scheme. In addition, we establish conditions under which the cost function approximation provides a lower bound for the optimal cost. Finally, we present a biased aggregation approach, which leverages an optimal cost function estimate to improve the quality of the approximation error of the aggregate problem.
title Feature-Based Belief Aggregation for Partially Observable Markov Decision Problems
topic Systems and Control
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.04646