Academic Showcase

Research & Publications

Peer-reviewed articles, research posters, technical reports, and presentation slides in Reinforcement Learning, Bio-Inspired AI, and Autonomous Navigation.

MSURJ Journal Publication
May 2026

RainbowZero: Combining Advancements in Search and Reinforcement Learning for Complex Environments

Jonathan Lamontagne KratzMcGill Science Undergraduate Research Journal (MSURJ), Vol. 21 | Special Issue 2026

Abstract & Overview

While deep reinforcement learning has achieved superhuman performance in fully observable, zero-sum games, environments characterized by high stochasticity and complex state spaces remain a significant challenge. This research introduces 'RainbowZero,' a novel algorithmic framework that synergizes the forward-planning capabilities of search-based algorithms (such as MuZero and Muesli) with advanced value estimation techniques and world models (e.g., Dreamer and Rainbow). We utilize the board game Settlers of Catan as our primary testbed due to its complex mechanics, varying board layouts, and high variance. The RainbowZero architecture serves as a proxy for complex, real-world optimization problems, specifically targeting autonomous decision-making in industrial operations.

Reinforcement Learning
Monte Carlo Tree Search
MuZero
Rainbow DQN
Stochastic Optimization
Multi-Agent Systems
COMP 400 Final Report & Presentation Deck
May 2025

COMP 400 Final Report: RatSlam 2.0 (VectorHaSH & Bio-Plausible SLAM)

Ezra Huang*, Jonathan Lamontagne-Kratz*, Olivier Lefevre*, Prof. Isabeau Premont-SchwarzMcGill University School of Computer Science (COMP 400 Honors Project)
*Co-first authors (equal contribution). Ordering determined alphabetically.

Abstract & Overview

We introduce RatSLAM 2.0, a novel biologically-plausible SLAM algorithm modernizing the original RatSLAM by integrating a new neocortical-hippocampal-entorhinal model based on the VectorHaSH framework. Our research generalizes the VectorHaSH memory scaffold to 3D spatial dimensions and non-square modules, confirming high capacity scaling linearly with module count. We benchmark Hebbian learning variations against analytic and iterative pseudoinverse methods, demonstrating that iterative pseudoinverse learning achieves superior stability for long-term associative memory. Evaluated in the AnimalAI environment, RatSLAM 2.0 successfully performs SLAM and pose tracking during continuous motion.

RatSLAM 2.0
VectorHaSH
Bio-Inspired SLAM
Entorhinal Grid Cells
Continuous Attractor Networks
Pseudoinverse Learning
AnimalAI