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Dynamic Programming and Value-Function Approximation in Sequential Decision Problems: Error Analysis and Numerical Results

Gaggero, Mauro and Gnecco, Giorgio and Sanguineti, Marcello Dynamic Programming and Value-Function Approximation in Sequential Decision Problems: Error Analysis and Numerical Results. Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications, 156 (2). pp. 380-416. ISSN 0022-3239 (2013)

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Abstract

Value-function approximation is investigated for the solution via Dynamic Programming (DP) of continuous-state sequential N-stage decision problems, in which the reward to be maximized has an additive structure over a finite number of stages. Conditions that guarantee smoothness properties of the value function at each stage are derived. These properties are exploited to approximate such functions by means of certain nonlinear approximation schemes, which include splines of suitable order and Gaussian radial-basis networks with variable centers and widths. The accuracies of suboptimal solutions obtained by combining DP with these approximation tools are estimated. The results provide insights into the successful performances appeared in the literature about the use of value-function approximators in DP. The theoretical analysis is applied to a problem of optimal consumption, with simulation results illustrating the use of the proposed solution methodology. Numerical comparisons with classical linear approximators are presented.

Item Type: Article
Identification Number: 10.1007/s10957-012-0118-2
Uncontrolled Keywords: Sequential decision problems; Dynamic programming; Approximation schemes; Curse of dimensionality; Suboptimal solutions; Optimal consumption
Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA75 Electronic computers. Computer science
Research Area: Computer Science and Applications
Depositing User: Giorgio Gnecco
Date Deposited: 16 Sep 2013 09:25
Last Modified: 16 Sep 2013 12:02
URI: http://eprints.imtlucca.it/id/eprint/1728

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