LIPIcs

We consider Markov decision processes (MDPs) with specifications given as Büchi (liveness) objectives. We consider the problem of computing the set of almost-sure winning vertices from where the objective can be ensured with probability 1. We study for the first time the average case complexity of the classical algorithm for computing the set of almost-sure winning vertices for MDPs with Büchi objectives. Our contributions are as follows: First, we show that for MDPs with constant out-degree the expected number of iterations is at most logarithmic and the average case running time is linear (as compared to the worst case linear number of iterations and quadratic time complexity). Second, for the average case analysis over all MDPs we show that the expected number of iterations is constant and the average case running time is linear (again as compared to the worst case linear number of iterations and quadratic time complexity). Finally we also show that given that all MDPs are equally likely, the probability that the classical algorithm requires more than constant number of iterations is exponentially small

Life Is Random, Time Is Not: Markov Decision Processes with Window Objectives

The window mechanism was introduced by Chatterjee et al. [Krishnendu Chatterjee et al., 2015] to strengthen classical game objectives with time bounds. It permits to synthesize system controllers that exhibit acceptable behaviors within a configurable time frame, all along their infinite execution, in contrast to the traditional objectives that only require correctness of behaviors in the limit. The window concept has proved its interest in a variety of two-player zero-sum games, thanks to the ability to reason about such time bounds in system specifications, but also the increased tractability that it usually yields. In this work, we extend the window framework to stochastic environments by considering the fundamental threshold probability problem in Markov decision processes for window objectives. That is, given such an objective, we want to synthesize strategies that guarantee satisfying runs with a given probability. We solve this problem for the usual variants of window objectives, where either the time frame is set as a parameter, or we ask if such a time frame exists. We develop a generic approach for window-based objectives and instantiate it for the classical mean-payoff and parity objectives, already considered in games. Our work paves the way to a wide use of the window mechanism in stochastic models

Value Iteration for Long-run Average Reward in Markov Decision Processes

Markov decision processes (MDPs) are standard models for probabilistic systems with non-deterministic behaviours. Long-run average rewards provide a mathematically elegant formalism for expressing long term performance. Value iteration (VI) is one of the simplest and most efficient algorithmic approaches to MDPs with other properties, such as reachability objectives. Unfortunately, a naive extension of VI does not work for MDPs with long-run average rewards, as there is no known stopping criterion. In this work our contributions are threefold. (1) We refute a conjecture related to stopping criteria for MDPs with long-run average rewards. (2) We present two practical algorithms for MDPs with long-run average rewards based on VI. First, we show that a combination of applying VI locally for each maximal end-component (MEC) and VI for reachability objectives can provide approximation guarantees. Second, extending the above approach with a simulation-guided on-demand variant of VI, we present an anytime algorithm that is able to deal with very large models. (3) Finally, we present experimental results showing that our methods significantly outperform the standard approaches on several benchmarks

Faster Algorithms for Mean-Payoff Parity Games

Graph games provide the foundation for modeling and synthesis of reactive processes. Such games are played over graphs where the vertices are controlled by two adversarial players. We consider graph games where the objective of the first player is the conjunction of a qualitative objective (specified as a parity condition) and a quantitative objective (specified as a meanpayoff condition). There are two variants of the problem, namely, the threshold problem where the quantitative goal is to ensure that the mean-payoff value is above a threshold, and the value problem where the quantitative goal is to ensure the optimal mean-payoff value; in both cases ensuring the qualitative parity objective. The previous best-known algorithms for game graphs with n vertices, m edges, parity objectives with d priorities, and maximal absolute reward value W for mean-payoff objectives, are as follows: O(nd+1 . m . w) for the threshold problem, and O(nd+2 · m · W) for the value problem. Our main contributions are faster algorithms, and the running times of our algorithms are as follows: O(nd-1 · m ·W) for the threshold problem, and O(nd · m · W · log(n · W)) for the value problem. For mean-payoff parity objectives with two priorities, our algorithms match the best-known bounds of the algorithms for mean-payoff games (without conjunction with parity objectives). Our results are relevant in synthesis of reactive systems with both functional requirement (given as a qualitative objective) and performance requirement (given as a quantitative objective)

LIPIcs

Graph games provide the foundation for modeling and synthesis of reactive processes. Such games are played over graphs where the vertices are controlled by two adversarial players. We consider graph games where the objective of the first player is the conjunction of a qualitative objective (specified as a parity condition) and a quantitative objective (specified as a meanpayoff condition). There are two variants of the problem, namely, the threshold problem where the quantitative goal is to ensure that the mean-payoff value is above a threshold, and the value problem where the quantitative goal is to ensure the optimal mean-payoff value; in both cases ensuring the qualitative parity objective. The previous best-known algorithms for game graphs with n vertices, m edges, parity objectives with d priorities, and maximal absolute reward value W for mean-payoff objectives, are as follows: O(nd+1 . m . w) for the threshold problem, and O(nd+2 · m · W) for the value problem. Our main contributions are faster algorithms, and the running times of our algorithms are as follows: O(nd-1 · m ·W) for the threshold problem, and O(nd · m · W · log(n · W)) for the value problem. For mean-payoff parity objectives with two priorities, our algorithms match the best-known bounds of the algorithms for mean-payoff games (without conjunction with parity objectives). Our results are relevant in synthesis of reactive systems with both functional requirement (given as a qualitative objective) and performance requirement (given as a quantitative objective)

Provably-Correct Task Planning for Autonomous Outdoor Robots

Autonomous outdoor robots should be able to accomplish complex tasks safely and reliably while considering constraints that arise from both the environment and the physical platform. Such tasks extend basic navigation capabilities to specify a sequence of events over time. For example, an autonomous aerial vehicle can be given a surveillance task with contingency plans while complying with rules in regulated airspace, or an autonomous ground robot may need to guarantee a given probability of success while searching for the quickest way to complete the mission. A promising approach for the automatic synthesis of trusted controllers for complex tasks is to employ techniques from formal methods. In formal methods, tasks are formally specified symbolically with temporal logic. The robot then synthesises a controller automatically to execute trusted behaviour that guarantees the satisfaction of specified tasks and regulations. However, a difficulty arises from the lack of expressivity, which means the constraints affecting outdoor robots cannot be specified naturally with temporal logic. The goal of this thesis is to extend the capabilities of formal methods to express the constraints that arise from outdoor applications and synthesise provably-correct controllers with trusted behaviours over time. This thesis focuses on two important types of constraints, resource and safety constraints, and presents three novel algorithms that express tasks with these constraints and synthesise controllers that satisfy the specification. Firstly, this thesis proposes an extension to probabilistic computation tree logic (PCTL) called resource threshold PCTL (RT-PCTL) that naturally defines the mission specification with continuous resource threshold constraints; furthermore, it synthesises an optimal control policy with respect to the probability of success. With RT-PCTL, a state with accumulated resource out of the specified bound is considered to be failed or saturated depending on the specification. The requirements on resource bounds are naturally encoded in the symbolic specification, followed by the automatic synthesis of an optimal controller with respect to the probability of success. Secondly, the thesis proposes an online algorithm called greedy Buchi algorithm (GBA) that reduces the synthesis problem size to avoid the scalability problem. A framework is then presented with realistic control dynamics and physical assumptions in the environment such as wind estimation and fuel constraints. The time and space complexity for the framework is polynomial in the size of the system state, which is efficient for online synthesis. Lastly, the thesis proposes a synthesis algorithm for an optimal controller with respect to completion time given the minimum safety constraints. The algorithm naturally balances between completion time and safety. This work proves an analytical relationship between the probability of success and the conditional completion time given the mission specification. The theoretical contributions in this thesis are validated through realistic simulation examples. This thesis identifies and solves two core problems that contribute to the overall vision of developing a theoretical basis for trusted behaviour in outdoor robots. These contributions serve as a foundation for further research in multi-constrained task planning where a number of different constraints are considered simultaneously within a single framework

Model-free reinforcement learning for stochastic parity games

This paper investigates the use of model-free reinforcement learning to compute the optimal value in two-player stochastic games with parity objectives. In this setting, two decision makers, player Min and player Max, compete on a finite game arena - a stochastic game graph with unknown but fixed probability distributions - to minimize and maximize, respectively, the probability of satisfying a parity objective. We give a reduction from stochastic parity games to a family of stochastic reachability games with a parameter ε, such that the value of a stochastic parity game equals the limit of the values of the corresponding simple stochastic games as the parameter ε tends to 0. Since this reduction does not require the knowledge of the probabilistic transition structure of the underlying game arena, model-free reinforcement learning algorithms, such as minimax Q-learning, can be used to approximate the value and mutual best-response strategies for both players in the underlying stochastic parity game. We also present a streamlined reduction from 112-player parity games to reachability games that avoids recourse to nondeterminism. Finally, we report on the experimental evaluations of both reductions

LNCS

Responsiveness—the requirement that every request to a system be eventually handled—is one of the fundamental liveness properties of a reactive system. Average response time is a quantitative measure for the responsiveness requirement used commonly in performance evaluation. We show how average response time can be computed on state-transition graphs, on Markov chains, and on game graphs. In all three cases, we give polynomial-time algorithms

Formal Methods for Autonomous Systems

Formal methods refer to rigorous, mathematical approaches to system development and have played a key role in establishing the correctness of safety-critical systems. The main building blocks of formal methods are models and specifications, which are analogous to behaviors and requirements in system design and give us the means to verify and synthesize system behaviors with formal guarantees. This monograph provides a survey of the current state of the art on applications of formal methods in the autonomous systems domain. We consider correct-by-construction synthesis under various formulations, including closed systems, reactive, and probabilistic settings. Beyond synthesizing systems in known environments, we address the concept of uncertainty and bound the behavior of systems that employ learning using formal methods. Further, we examine the synthesis of systems with monitoring, a mitigation technique for ensuring that once a system deviates from expected behavior, it knows a way of returning to normalcy. We also show how to overcome some limitations of formal methods themselves with learning. We conclude with future directions for formal methods in reinforcement learning, uncertainty, privacy, explainability of formal methods, and regulation and certification