Learning Human Reaching Optimality Principles from Minimal Observation Inverse Reinforcement Learning

Fuente: arXiv
Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mehrdad, Sarmad, Sabbah, Maxime, Bonnet, Vincent, Righetti, Ludovic
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866908571403288576
author Mehrdad, Sarmad
Sabbah, Maxime
Bonnet, Vincent
Righetti, Ludovic
author_facet Mehrdad, Sarmad
Sabbah, Maxime
Bonnet, Vincent
Righetti, Ludovic
contents This paper investigates the application of Minimal Observation Inverse Reinforcement Learning (MO-IRL) to model and predict human arm-reaching movements with time-varying cost weights. Using a planar two-link biomechanical model and high-resolution motion-capture data from subjects performing a pointing task, we segment each trajectory into multiple phases and learn phase-specific combinations of seven candidate cost functions. MO-IRL iteratively refines cost weights by scaling observed and generated trajectories in the maximum entropy IRL formulation, greatly reducing the number of required demonstrations and convergence time compared to classical IRL approaches. Training on ten trials per posture yields average joint-angle Root Mean Squared Errors (RMSE) of 6.4 deg and 5.6 deg for six- and eight-segment weight divisions, respectively, versus 10.4 deg using a single static weight. Cross-validation on remaining trials and, for the first time, inter-subject validation on an unseen subject's 20 trials, demonstrates comparable predictive accuracy, around 8 deg RMSE, indicating robust generalization. Learned weights emphasize joint acceleration minimization during movement onset and termination, aligning with smoothness principles observed in biological motion. These results suggest that MO-IRL can efficiently uncover dynamic, subject-independent cost structures underlying human motor control, with potential applications for humanoid robots.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_00329
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Learning Human Reaching Optimality Principles from Minimal Observation Inverse Reinforcement Learning
Mehrdad, Sarmad
Sabbah, Maxime
Bonnet, Vincent
Righetti, Ludovic
Robotics
This paper investigates the application of Minimal Observation Inverse Reinforcement Learning (MO-IRL) to model and predict human arm-reaching movements with time-varying cost weights. Using a planar two-link biomechanical model and high-resolution motion-capture data from subjects performing a pointing task, we segment each trajectory into multiple phases and learn phase-specific combinations of seven candidate cost functions. MO-IRL iteratively refines cost weights by scaling observed and generated trajectories in the maximum entropy IRL formulation, greatly reducing the number of required demonstrations and convergence time compared to classical IRL approaches. Training on ten trials per posture yields average joint-angle Root Mean Squared Errors (RMSE) of 6.4 deg and 5.6 deg for six- and eight-segment weight divisions, respectively, versus 10.4 deg using a single static weight. Cross-validation on remaining trials and, for the first time, inter-subject validation on an unseen subject's 20 trials, demonstrates comparable predictive accuracy, around 8 deg RMSE, indicating robust generalization. Learned weights emphasize joint acceleration minimization during movement onset and termination, aligning with smoothness principles observed in biological motion. These results suggest that MO-IRL can efficiently uncover dynamic, subject-independent cost structures underlying human motor control, with potential applications for humanoid robots.
title Learning Human Reaching Optimality Principles from Minimal Observation Inverse Reinforcement Learning
topic Robotics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.00329