Meta-Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning for Fast Adaptation of Interactive Policies with Applications to Autonomous Driving

Abstract:This paper develops a meta-multi-agent reinforcement learning (meta-MARL) framework to enable fast adaptation of interactive policies in a multi-agent system (MAS). Meta-reinforcement learning (meta-RL) enables agents to rapidly adapt to new tasks/environments using a bi-level optimization mechanism. However, existing meta-RL generally focuses on single-agent systems. Extending these frameworks and algorithms to multi-agent systems poses additional challenges, as tasks are characterized by not only the environment but also agents' strategic interactions. To address these challenges, we model multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) problems as Markov games (MGs) and develop a meta-MARL framework for rapid interactive policy adaptation across a distribution of MGs. A new concept, called meta-NE, is defined to describe the desired solution concept in a meta-MARL problem. Sufficient conditions for the equivalence between a meta-NE and a stationary point of the gradient-play-based meta-MARL algorithm are established. Our evaluation on autonomous-driving tasks demonstrates that the proposed meta-MARL method achieves faster adaptation than pretrained MARL baselines, validating the effectiveness of our framework.

Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI); Multiagent Systems (cs.MA); Systems and Control (eess.SY)

arXiv:2610.00705 [cs.AI]

(or arXiv:2610.00705v1 [cs.AI] for this version)

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2610.00705 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)

arXivLabs is a framework that allows collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on our website.

Both individuals and organizations that work with arXivLabs have embraced and accepted our values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and only works with partners that adhere to them.

Have an idea for a project that will add value for arXiv's community? Learn more about arXivLabs.