papers

Publications (45)

math.OC2018

Performance guarantees for greedy maximization of non-submodular controllability metrics

Tyler Summers, Maryam Kamgarpour

A key problem in emerging complex cyber-physical networks is the design of information and control topologies, including sensor and actuator selection and communication network des…

math.OC2026

Optimizing Weighted Hodge Laplacian Flows on Simplicial Complexes

Mathias Hudoba de Badyn, Tyler Summers

Simplicial complexes are generalizations of graphs that describe higher-order network interactions among nodes in the graph. Network dynamics described by graph Laplacian flows hav…

math.OC2019

Sparse optimal control of networks with multiplicative noise via policy gradient

Benjamin Gravell, Yi Guo, Tyler Summers

We give algorithms for designing near-optimal sparse controllers using policy gradient with applications to control of systems corrupted by multiplicative noise, which is increasin…

math.OC2018

Stochastic Optimal Power Flow Based on Data-Driven Distributionally Robust Optimization

Yi Guo, Kyri Baker, Emiliano Dall'Anese +2

We propose a data-driven method to solve a stochastic optimal power flow (OPF) problem based on limited information about forecast error distributions. The objective is to determin…

cs.RO2025

HRT1: One-Shot Human-to-Robot Trajectory Transfer for Mobile Manipulation

Sai Haneesh Allu, Jishnu Jaykumar P, Ninad Khargonkar +3

We introduce a novel system for human-to-robot trajectory transfer that enables robots to manipulate objects by learning from human demonstration videos. The system consists of fou…

eess.SY2026

Motion Planning with Precedence Specifications via Augmented Graphs of Convex Sets

Shilin You, Gael Luna, Juned Shaikh +4

We present an algorithm for planning trajectories that avoid obstacles and satisfy key-door precedence specifications expressed with a fragment of signal temporal logic. Our method…

math.OC2017

Performance bounds for optimal feedback control in networks

Tyler Summers, Justin Ruths

Many important complex networks, including critical infrastructure and emerging industrial automation systems, are becoming increasingly intricate webs of interacting feedback cont…

math.OC2022

Optimal Pump Control for Water Distribution Networks via Data-based Distributional Robustness

Yi Guo, Shen Wang, Ahmad Taha +1

In this paper, we propose a data-based methodology to solve a multi-period stochastic optimal water flow (OWF) problem for water distribution networks (WDNs). The framework explici…

math.OC2018

On infinite dimensional linear programming approach to stochastic control

Maryam Kamgarpour, Tyler Summers

We consider the infinite dimensional linear programming (inf-LP) approach for solving stochastic control problems. The inf-LP corresponding to problems with uncountable state and i…

cs.RO2024

Grasping Trajectory Optimization with Point Clouds

Yu Xiang, Sai Haneesh Allu, Rohith Peddi +2

We introduce a new trajectory optimization method for robotic grasping based on a point-cloud representation of robots and task spaces. In our method, robots are represented by 3D…

eess.SY2022

Identification of Linear Systems with Multiplicative Noise from Multiple Trajectory Data

Yu Xing, Benjamin Gravell, Xingkang He +2

The paper studies identification of linear systems with multiplicative noise from multiple-trajectory data. An algorithm based on the least-squares method and multiple-trajectory d…

cs.LG2022

PAGE-PG: A Simple and Loopless Variance-Reduced Policy Gradient Method with Probabilistic Gradient Estimation

Matilde Gargiani, Andrea Zanelli, Andrea Martinelli +2

Despite their success, policy gradient methods suffer from high variance of the gradient estimate, which can result in unsatisfactory sample complexity. Recently, numerous variance…

math.OC2023

Regret Analysis of Online LQR Control via Trajectory Prediction and Tracking: Extended Version

Yitian Chen, Timothy L. Molloy, Tyler Summers +1

In this paper, we propose and analyze a new method for online linear quadratic regulator (LQR) control with a priori unknown time-varying cost matrices. The cost matrices are revea…

cs.RO2021

Centralized Collision-free Polynomial Trajectories and Goal Assignment for Aerial Swarms

Benjamin Gravell, Tyler Summers

Computationally tractable methods are developed for centralized goal assignment and planning of collision-free polynomial-in-time trajectories for systems of multiple aerial robots…

cs.RO2018

Minimax Iterative Dynamic Game: Application to Nonlinear Robot Control Tasks

Olalekan Ogunmolu, Nicholas Gans, Tyler Summers

Multistage decision policies provide useful control strategies in high-dimensional state spaces, particularly in complex control tasks. However, they exhibit weak performance guara…

math.DS2020

Robust Control Design for Linear Systems via Multiplicative Noise

Benjamin Gravell, Peyman Mohajerin Esfahani, Tyler Summers

Robust stability and stochastic stability have separately seen intense study in control theory for many decades. In this work we establish relations between these properties for di…

math.OC2017

The Linear Programming Approach to Reach-Avoid Problems for Markov Decision Processes

Nikolaos Kariotoglou, Maryam Kamgarpour, Tyler Summers +1

One of the most fundamental problems in Markov decision processes is analysis and control synthesis for safety and reachability specifications. We consider the stochastic reach-avo…

math.OC2020

Stochastic Dynamic Programming for Wind Farm Power Maximization

Yi Guo, Mario Rotea, Tyler Summers

Wind farms can increase annual energy production (AEP) with advanced control algorithms by coordinating the set points of individual turbine controllers across the farm. However, i…

cs.LG2020

Learning robust control for LQR systems with multiplicative noise via policy gradient

Benjamin Gravell, Peyman Mohajerin Esfahani, Tyler Summers

The linear quadratic regulator (LQR) problem has reemerged as an important theoretical benchmark for reinforcement learning-based control of complex dynamical systems with continuo…

math.OC2020

Solving Optimal Power Flow for Distribution Networks with State Estimation Feedback

Yi Guo, Xinyang Zhou, Changhong Zhao +3

Conventional optimal power flow (OPF) solvers assume full observability of the involved system states. However, in practice, there is a lack of reliable system monitoring devices i…

math.OC2022

Sparse Structure Design for Stochastic Linear Systems via a Linear Matrix Inequality Approach

Yi Guo, Ognjen Stanojev, Gabriela Hug +1

In this paper, we propose a sparsity-promoting feedback control design for stochastic linear systems with multiplicative noise. The objective is to identify a sparse control archit…

math.OC2022

Approximate Midpoint Policy Iteration for Linear Quadratic Control

Benjamin Gravell, Iman Shames, Tyler Summers

We present a midpoint policy iteration algorithm to solve linear quadratic optimal control problems in both model-based and model-free settings. The algorithm is a variation of New…

eess.SY2024

Self-Tuning Network Control Architectures with Joint Sensor and Actuator Selection

Karthik Ganapathy, Iman Shames, Mathias Hudoba de Badyn +1

We formulate a mathematical framework for designing a self-tuning network control architecture, and propose a computationally-feasible greedy algorithm for online architecture opti…

eess.SY2022

Risk Bounded Nonlinear Robot Motion Planning With Integrated Perception & Control

Venkatraman Renganathan, Sleiman Safaoui, Aadi Kothari +3

Robust autonomy stacks require tight integration of perception, motion planning, and control layers, but these layers often inadequately incorporate inherent perception and predict…

math.OC2019

Actuator Placement for Optimizing Network Performance under Controllability Constraints

Baiwei Guo, Orcun Karaca, Tyler Summers +1

With the rising importance of large-scale network control, the problem of actuator placement has received increasing attention. Our goal in this paper is to find a set of actuators…

math.OC2023

Self-Tuning Network Control Architectures

Tyler Summers, Karthik Ganapathy, Iman Shames +1

We formulate a general mathematical framework for self-tuning network control architecture design. This problem involves jointly adapting the locations of active sensors and actuat…

math.OC2026

Solving the Offline and Online Min-Max Problem of Non-smooth Submodular-Concave Functions: A Zeroth-Order Approach

Amir Ali Farzin, Yuen-Man Pun, Philipp Braun +2

We consider max-min and min-max problems with objective functions that are possibly non-smooth, submodular with respect to the minimiser and concave with respect to the maximiser.…

cs.RO2026

Build Once, Monitor Continuously: Persistent Semantic Mapping via Autonomous Exploration and Open-Vocabulary Object Updates

Sai Haneesh Allu, Itay Kadosh, Tyler Summers +1

Persistent semantic monitoring of indoor spaces such as warehouses, hospitals, and offices requires a robot to repeatedly monitor an environment and track how objects change over t…

math.OC2017

Information Structure Design in Team Decision Problems

Tyler Summers, Changyuan Li, Maryam Kamgarpour

We consider a problem of information structure design in team decision problems and team games. We propose simple, scalable greedy algorithms for adding a set of extra information…

math.OC2022

Data-driven distributionally robust MPC for systems with uncertain dynamics

Francesco Micheli, Tyler Summers, John Lygeros

We present a novel data-driven distributionally robust Model Predictive Control formulation for unknown discrete-time linear time-invariant systems affected by unknown and possibly…

cs.RO2022

Probabilistic Data Association for Semantic SLAM at Scale

Elad Michael, Tyler Summers, Tony A. Wood +2

With advances in image processing and machine learning, it is now feasible to incorporate semantic information into the problem of simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM). Pre…

math.OC2014

Topology Design for Optimal Network Coherence

Tyler Summers, Iman Shames, John Lygeros +1

We consider a network topology design problem in which an initial undirected graph underlying the network is given and the objective is to select a set of edges to add to the graph…

cs.RO2024

CLIPPER+: A Fast Maximal Clique Algorithm for Robust Global Registration

Kaveh Fathian, Tyler Summers

We present CLIPPER+, an algorithm for finding maximal cliques in unweighted graphs for outlier-robust global registration. The registration problem can be formulated as a graph and…

math.OC2021

Distributionally Robust Bootstrap Optimization

Tyler Summers, Maryam Kamgarpour

Control architectures and autonomy stacks for complex engineering systems are often divided into layers to decompose a complex problem and solution into distinct, manageable sub-pr…

math.OC2026

Forward-Backward Dynamic Programming for LQG Dynamic Games with Partial and Asymmetric Information

Yuxiang Guan, Iman Shames, Tyler Summers

We formulate and study a class of two-player zero-sum stochastic dynamic games with partial and asymmetric information. Information asymmetry introduces fundamental challenges invo…

cs.LG2021

Robust Learning-Based Control via Bootstrapped Multiplicative Noise

Benjamin Gravell, Tyler Summers

Despite decades of research and recent progress in adaptive control and reinforcement learning, there remains a fundamental lack of understanding in designing controllers that prov…

eess.SY2020

Linear System Identification Under Multiplicative Noise from Multiple Trajectory Data

Yu Xing, Ben Gravell, Xingkang He +2

The study of multiplicative noise models has a long history in control theory but is re-emerging in the context of complex networked systems and systems with learning-based control…

cs.RO2019

Robust Optimal Design of Energy Efficient Series Elastic Actuators: Application to a Powered Prosthetic Ankle

Edgar Bolívar, Siavash Rezazadeh, Tyler Summers +1

Design of robotic systems that safely and efficiently operate in uncertain operational conditions, such as rehabilitation and physical assistance robots, remains an important chall…

math.OC2018

Time-Varying Sensor and Actuator Selection for Uncertain Cyber-Physical Systems

Ahmad F. Taha, Nikolaos Gatsis, Tyler Summers +1

We propose methods to solve time-varying, sensor and actuator (SaA) selection problems for uncertain cyber-physical systems. We show that many SaA selection problems for optimizing…

eess.SY2026

Augmented Graphs of Convex Sets and the Traveling Salesman Problem

Gael Luna, Tyler Summers

We present a trajectory optimization algorithm for the traveling salesman problem (TSP) in graphs of convex sets (GCS). Our framework uses an augmented graph of convex sets to enco…

math.OC2025

Minimisation of Submodular Functions Using Gaussian Zeroth-Order Random Oracles

Amir Ali Farzin, Yuen-Man Pun, Philipp Braun +2

We consider the minimisation problem of submodular functions and investigate the application of a zeroth-order method to this problem. The method is based on exploiting a Gaussian…

eess.SY2022

Robust Data-Driven Output Feedback Control via Bootstrapped Multiplicative Noise

Benjamin Gravell, Iman Shames, Tyler Summers

We propose a robust data-driven output feedback control algorithm that explicitly incorporates inherent finite-sample model estimate uncertainties into the control design. The algo…

math.OC2022

Dynamic Programming Through the Lens of Semismooth Newton-Type Methods (Extended Version)

Matilde Gargiani, Andrea Zanelli, Dominic Liao-McPherson +2

Policy iteration and value iteration are at the core of many (approximate) dynamic programming methods. For Markov Decision Processes with finite state and action spaces, we show t…

math.OC2020

Actuator Placement under Structural Controllability using Forward and Reverse Greedy Algorithms

Baiwei Guo, Orcun Karaca, Tyler Summers +1

Actuator placement is an active field of research which has received significant attention for its applications in complex dynamical networks. In this paper, we study the problem o…

eess.SY2018

Simultaneous Sensor and Actuator Selection/Placement through Output Feedback Control

Sebastian Nugroho, Ahmad F. Taha, Tyler Summers +1

In most dynamic networks, it is impractical to measure all of the system states; instead, only a subset of the states are measured through sensors. Consequently, and unlike full st…