CrystalBox: Future-Based Explanations for Input-Driven Deep RL Systems

We present CrystalBox, a novel, model-agnostic, posthoc explainability framework for Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) controllers in the large family of input-driven environments which includes computer systems. We combine the natural decomposability of reward functions in input-driven environments with the explanatory power of decomposed returns. We propose an efficient algorithm to generate future-based explanations across both discrete and continuous control environments. Using applications such as adaptive bitrate streaming and congestion control, we demonstrate CrystalBox's capability to generate high-fidelity explanations. We further illustrate its higher utility across three practical use cases: contrastive explanations, network observability, and guided reward design, as opposed to prior explainability techniques that identify salient features.

Authors

• Sagar Patel University of California, Irvine
• Sangeetha Abdu Jyothi University of California, Irvine VMware Research
• Nina Narodytska VMware Research

Keywords

• APP: Other Applications
• APP: Web
• ML: Reinforcement Learning
• ML: Transparent, Interpretable, Explainable ML