# Unity ML-Agents Toolkit (Beta)
**The Unity Machine Learning Agents Toolkit** (ML-Agents) is an open-source Unity plugin
that enables games and simulations to serve as environments for training
intelligent agents. Agents can be trained using reinforcement learning,
imitation learning, neuroevolution, or other machine learning methods through
a simple-to-use Python API. We also provide implementations (based on
TensorFlow) of state-of-the-art algorithms to enable game developers
and hobbyists to easily train intelligent agents for 2D, 3D and VR/AR games.
These trained agents can be used for multiple purposes, including
controlling NPC behavior (in a variety of settings such as multi-agent and
adversarial), automated testing of game builds and evaluating different game
design decisions pre-release. The ML-Agents toolkit is mutually beneficial for both game
developers and AI researchers as it provides a central platform where advances
in AI can be evaluated on Unity’s rich environments and then made accessible
to the wider research and game developer communities.
## Features
* Unity environment control from Python
* 10+ sample Unity environments
* Support for multiple environment configurations and training scenarios
* Train memory-enhanced Agents using deep reinforcement learning
* Easily definable Curriculum Learning scenarios
* Broadcasting of Agent behavior for supervised learning
* Built-in support for Imitation Learning
* Flexible Agent control with On Demand Decision Making
* Visualizing network outputs within the environment
* Simplified set-up with Docker
## Documentation
* For more information, in addition to installation and usage
instructions, see our [documentation home](docs/Readme.md).
* If you have
used a version of the ML-Agents toolkit prior to v0.4, we strongly recommend
our [guide on migrating from earlier versions](docs/Migrating.md).
## References
We have published a series of blog posts that are relevant for ML-Agents:
- Overviewing reinforcement learning concepts
([multi-armed bandit](https://blogs.unity3d.com/2017/06/26/unity-ai-themed-blog-entries/)
and [Q-learning](https://blogs.unity3d.com/2017/08/22/unity-ai-reinforcement-learning-with-q-learning/))
- [Using Machine Learning Agents in a real game: a beginner’s guide](https://blogs.unity3d.com/2017/12/11/using-machine-learning-agents-in-a-real-game-a-beginners-guide/)
- [Post](https://blogs.unity3d.com/2018/02/28/introducing-the-winners-of-the-first-ml-agents-challenge/) announcing the winners of our
[first ML-Agents Challenge](https://connect.unity.com/challenges/ml-agents-1)
- [Post](https://blogs.unity3d.com/2018/01/23/designing-safer-cities-through-simulations/)
overviewing how Unity can be leveraged as a simulator to design safer cities.
In addition to our own documentation, here are some additional, relevant articles:
- [Unity AI - Unity 3D Artificial Intelligence](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqsfkGbBU6k)
- [A Game Developer Learns Machine Learning](https://mikecann.co.uk/machine-learning/a-game-developer-learns-machine-learning-intent/)
- [Explore Unity Technologies ML-Agents Exclusively on Intel Architecture](https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/explore-unity-technologies-ml-agents-exclusively-on-intel-architecture)
## Community and Feedback
The ML-Agents toolkit is an open-source project and we encourage and welcome contributions.
If you wish to contribute, be sure to review our
[contribution guidelines](CONTRIBUTING.md) and
[code of conduct](CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md).
You can connect with us and the broader community
through Unity Connect and GitHub:
* Join our
[Unity Machine Learning Channel](https://connect.unity.com/messages/c/035fba4f88400000)
to connect with others using the ML-Agents toolkit and Unity developers enthusiastic
about machine learning. We use that channel to surface updates
regarding the ML-Agents toolkit (and, more broadly, machine learning in games).
* If you run into any problems using the ML-Agents toolkit,
[submit an issue](https://github.com/Unity-Technologies/ml-agents/issues) and
make sure to include as much detail as possible.
For any other questions or feedback, connect directly with the ML-Agents
team at ml-agents@unity3d.com.
## Translations
To make the Unity ML-Agents toolkit accessible to the global research and
Unity developer communities, we're attempting to create and maintain
translations of our documentation. We've started with translating a subset
of the documentation to one language (Chinese), but we hope to continue
translating more pages and to other languages. Consequently,
we welcome any enhancements and improvements from the community.
- [Chinese](docs/localized/zh-CN/)
## License
[Apache License 2.0](LICENSE)