Policy Optimization in Control: Geometry and Algorithmic Implications

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Talebi, Shahriar, Zheng, Yang, Kraisler, Spencer, Li, Na, Mesbahi, Mehran
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Talebi, Shahriar
Zheng, Yang
Kraisler, Spencer
Li, Na
Mesbahi, Mehran
author_facet Talebi, Shahriar
Zheng, Yang
Kraisler, Spencer
Li, Na
Mesbahi, Mehran
contents This survey explores the geometric perspective on policy optimization within the realm of feedback control systems, emphasizing the intrinsic relationship between control design and optimization. By adopting a geometric viewpoint, we aim to provide a nuanced understanding of how various ``complete parameterization'' -- referring to the policy parameters together with its Riemannian geometry -- of control design problems, influence stability and performance of local search algorithms. The paper is structured to address key themes such as policy parameterization, the topology and geometry of stabilizing policies, and their implications for various (non-convex) dynamic performance measures. We focus on a few iconic control design problems, including the Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR), Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) control, and $\mathcal{H}_\infty$ control. In particular, we first discuss the topology and Riemannian geometry of stabilizing policies, distinguishing between their static and dynamic realizations. Expanding on this geometric perspective, we then explore structural properties of the aforementioned performance measures and their interplay with the geometry of stabilizing policies in presence of policy constraints; along the way, we address issues such as spurious stationary points, symmetries of dynamic feedback policies, and (non-)smoothness of the corresponding performance measures. We conclude the survey with algorithmic implications of policy optimization in feedback design.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2406_04243
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Policy Optimization in Control: Geometry and Algorithmic Implications
Talebi, Shahriar
Zheng, Yang
Kraisler, Spencer
Li, Na
Mesbahi, Mehran
Optimization and Control
Systems and Control
Differential Geometry
This survey explores the geometric perspective on policy optimization within the realm of feedback control systems, emphasizing the intrinsic relationship between control design and optimization. By adopting a geometric viewpoint, we aim to provide a nuanced understanding of how various ``complete parameterization'' -- referring to the policy parameters together with its Riemannian geometry -- of control design problems, influence stability and performance of local search algorithms. The paper is structured to address key themes such as policy parameterization, the topology and geometry of stabilizing policies, and their implications for various (non-convex) dynamic performance measures. We focus on a few iconic control design problems, including the Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR), Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) control, and $\mathcal{H}_\infty$ control. In particular, we first discuss the topology and Riemannian geometry of stabilizing policies, distinguishing between their static and dynamic realizations. Expanding on this geometric perspective, we then explore structural properties of the aforementioned performance measures and their interplay with the geometry of stabilizing policies in presence of policy constraints; along the way, we address issues such as spurious stationary points, symmetries of dynamic feedback policies, and (non-)smoothness of the corresponding performance measures. We conclude the survey with algorithmic implications of policy optimization in feedback design.
title Policy Optimization in Control: Geometry and Algorithmic Implications
topic Optimization and Control
Systems and Control
Differential Geometry
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.04243