L1 Optimal Control of Continuous-Time Stochastic Positive Systems

Abstract

We present an L1-optimal control problem class with linear nonnegative costs subject to multiplicative Itô diffusion processes with elementwise linear input constraints. Forward invariance of the positive orthant is established for the considered stochastic dynamics, and a simulation method consistent with this invariance property is proposed. Both finite-horizon and discounted infinite-horizon stochastic L1-optimal control problems are considered. These problems admit explicit solutions characterized by a vector-valued ordinary differential equation in the finite-horizon case and by an algebraic equation in the infinite-horizon case. Notably, the optimal value function and feedback policy coincide with those of the corresponding deterministic problem, demonstrating robustness to multiplicative stochastic uncertainty. A portfolio example illustrates our results.

14 Pages. 2 Figures. Accepted for publication in IEEE Control Systems Letters (L-CSS) and under review for the 65th IEEE Conference in decision and control 2026 (CDC)