mlsanityData to 14 Oct 2026

Discovering Generalizable Spatial Goal Representations via Graph-based Active Reward Learning

arXiv 2211.15339 ↗First posted 24 Nov 2022cs.LG cs.AI cs.ROcited by 3

On the map: Offline RL and imitation learning from data → Imitation learning methods

Abstract (arXiv)

In this work, we consider one-shot imitation learning for object rearrangement tasks, where an AI agent needs to watch a single expert demonstration and learn to perform the same task in different environments. To achieve a strong generalization, the AI agent must infer the spatial goal specification for the task. However, there can be multiple goal specifications that fit the given demonstration. To address this, we propose a reward learning approach, Graph-based Equivalence Mappings (GEM), that can discover spatial goal representations that are aligned with the intended goal specification, enabling successful generalization in unseen environments. Specifically, GEM represents a spatial goal specification by a reward function conditioned on i) a graph indicating important spatial relationships between objects and ii) state equivalence mappings for each edge in the graph indicating invariant properties of the corresponding relationship. GEM combines inverse reinforcement learning and active reward learning to efficiently improve the reward function by utilizing the graph structure and domain randomization enabled by the equivalence mappings. We conducted experiments with simulated oracles and with human subjects. The results show that GEM can drastically improve the generalizability of the learned goal representations over strong baselines.

Key facts. Cited by 3 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026). Placed in Imitation learning methods, one of 13 directions in Offline RL and imitation learning from data. Builds on 31 of its 49 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 24 Nov 2022.

Builds on

31 of 49 references.

Closest ancestors · 1

Same direction, newest first

  1. 2019A Divergence Minimization Perspective on Imitation Learning Methods6 Nov

Other references · 30

  1. 2014Adam: A Method for Stochastic Optimizationcited by 37,240
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18 more
  1. 2020Long-term Human Motion Prediction with Scene Contextcited by 192
  2. 2021BEHAVIOR: Benchmark for Everyday Household Activities in Virtual, Interactive, and Ecological Environmentscited by 165
  3. 2017Interactive Learning from Policy-Dependent Human Feedbackcited by 158
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  18. 2021Desk Organization: Effect of Multimodal Inputs on Spatial Relational Learningcited by 2

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Citing papers per year: 2023: 2; 2024: 1.

3 papers.

Similar, not cited

Close in wording, no citation either way

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  3. 2026Generalize and Guide: Decomposing Rewards for Few-Shot Inverse Reinforcement Learning
  4. 2025Consistent Zero-Shot Imitation with Contrastive Goal Inference
  5. 2025Goal-Driven Reward by Video Diffusion Models for Reinforcement Learning
  6. 2019Learning to Reach Goals via Iterated Supervised Learning
  7. 2026Beyond Pixels: Learning Invariant Rewards for Real-World Robotics From a Few Demonstrations
  8. 2022GoalsEye: Learning High Speed Precision Table Tennis on a Physical Robot