Monte Carlo Tree Search applied to co-operative problems

Abstract

This paper highlights an experiment to see how standard Monte Carlo Tree Search handles simple co-operative problems with no prior or provided knowledge. These problems are formed from a simple grid world that has a set of goals, doors and buttons as well as walls that cannot be walked through. Two agents have to reach every goal present on the map. For a door to be open, an agent must be present on at least one of the buttons that is linked to it. When laid out correctly, the world requires each agent to do certain things at certain times in order to achieve the goal. With no modification to allow communication between the two agents, Monte Carlo Tress Search performs well and very “purposefully” when given enough computational time.