Safety-Constrained Optimal Control for Unknown System Dynamics

Abstract

In this paper, we present a framework for solving continuous optimal control problems when the true system dynamics are approximated through an imperfect model. We derive a control strategy by applying Pontryagin's Minimum Principle to the model-based Hamiltonian functional, which includes an additional penalty term that captures the deviation between the model and the true system. We then derive conditions under which this model-based strategy coincides with the optimal control strategy for the true system under mild convexity assumptions. We demonstrate the framework on a real robotic testbed for the cruise control application with safety distance constraints.

Submitted to CDC 2026