Optimization-related Terms
Genetic algorithm: A population of candidate solutions to an
optimization problem that evolve towards better solutions.
Policy: In machine learning, the mapping of states to actions
(e.g., a hungry animal begins to hunt).
Utility function: In machine learning, the assignment of
weights or values to agent states. Actions are selected by comparing the
values of the predicted states that derive from particular action. For
example, a policy involving search versus sit-and-wait strategies will
yield different outcomes for a hungry animal.
Adaptive movement: When animals modify their movement in
response to a change. In models, adaptive implies movement behaviors
that confer fitness/performance benefits.