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APS1080 – Reinforcement Learning (Graduate Course)

This repository contains coursework and assignments for APS1080: Reinforcement Learning, a graduate-level course at the University of Toronto.

📘 Course Overview

APS1080 provides a comprehensive introduction to Reinforcement Learning (RL), covering both classical methods and modern deep RL techniques. The course blends theoretical foundations with hands-on implementation in Python.

Core Topics Covered:

  • RL Fundamentals: Agent-environment setup, Markov Decision Processes (MDPs), rewards, value functions
  • Model-Based Methods: Dynamic Programming for planning and policy improvement
  • Model-Free Methods: Monte Carlo, TD(0), TD(λ), and SARSA
  • Function Approximation: Linear and nonlinear approximation in large state spaces
  • Deep RL: Deep Q-Networks (DQN), policy gradients, and advanced techniques like MuZero
  • Human Feedback and Real-World Considerations: Policy shaping, ChatGPT and RLHF

Readings are based on Reinforcement Learning: An Introduction (Sutton & Barto, 2nd Edition), Chapters 1–11.

📝 Assignment Summaries

🧮 Assignment 1 – Dynamic Programming

Implemented policy evaluation and improvement using tabular value iteration and policy iteration. Focused on model-based planning in small, discrete MDPs.

🎯 Assignment 2 – Monte Carlo and Temporal-Difference Learning

Applied Monte Carlo and TD(0) methods to the CartPole environment. Compared learning performance and visualized episode rewards.

📉 Assignment 3 – Function Approximation

Extended TD learning with linear function approximation for continuous state spaces. Implemented batch updates and evaluated generalization.

🤖 Assignment 4 – Deep Q-Networks (DQN)

Built a Deep Q-Network (DQN) using PyTorch. Incorporated experience replay, target networks, and epsilon-greedy exploration in a high-dimensional setting.

📗 Exercise Summaries

🧭 Exercise 1 – RL Foundations and MDPs

Introduced the agent-environment framework, MDPs, and core RL terminology. Explored return computation and value functions conceptually and programmatically.

🕹️ Exercise 2 – Policy Evaluation in CartPole

Implemented policy rollouts and return tracking in CartPole. Gained experience with OpenAI Gym environments and episode-based analysis.

🔄 Exercise 3 – Monte Carlo and TD in CartPole

Used Monte Carlo and TD(0) methods for value estimation. Compared learning stability, sample efficiency, and convergence characteristics.

🧮 Exercise 4 – Value Function Approximation

Applied linear function approximation to generalize across continuous states. Built and analyzed value estimators using feature representations.

⚠️ Academic Integrity

This repository is for educational reference only. If you are currently enrolled in APS1080, please do not copy or submit this work as your own.