Multi-agent temporal-difference learning with linear function approximation: Weak convergence under time-varying network topologies

Abstract

In this paper we propose two novel distributed algorithms for iterative multi-agent off-policy linear value function approximation in Markov decision processes. The algorithms do not require any fusion center and are based on incorporating consensus-based collaborations between the agents over time-varying communication networks into recently proposed single-agent algorithms. The resulting distributed algorithms allow the agents to have different behavior policies while evaluating the response to a single target policy, using the same linear parametrization of the value function. Under appropriate assumptions on the time-varying network topology and the overall state-visiting distributions of the agents we prove for both algorithms weak convergence of the parameter estimates to a consensus point determined by an associated ODE. By a proper design of the network parameters and/or topology, this point can be tuned to coincide with the globally optimal point. The properties and the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms are illustrated on an example.