Performance optimization is vital in the design and operation of modern
engineering systems, including communications, manufacturing, robotics,
and logistics. Most engineering systems are too complicated to model, or
the system parameters cannot be easily identified, so learning
techniques have to be applied. This book provides a unified framework
based on a sensitivity point of view. It also introduces new approaches
and proposes new research topics within this sensitivity-based
framework. This new perspective on a popular topic is presented by a
well respected expert in the field.