Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wehbeh, J., Kerrigan, E. C.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.01742
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866912568026595328
author Wehbeh, J.
Kerrigan, E. C.
author_facet Wehbeh, J.
Kerrigan, E. C.
contents In some optimal control problems, complex relationships between states and inputs cannot be easily represented using continuous constraints, necessitating the use of discrete logic instead. This paper presents a method for incorporating such logic constraints directly within continuous optimization frameworks, eliminating the need for binary variables or specialized solvers. Our approach reformulates arbitrary logic constraints under minimal assumptions as max-min constraints, which are then smoothed by introducing auxiliary variables into the optimization problem. When these reformulated constraints are satisfied, they guarantee that the original logical conditions hold, ensuring correctness in the optimization process. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this method on two planar quadrotor control tasks with complex logic constraints. Compared to existing techniques for encoding logic in continuous optimization, our approach achieves faster computational performance and improved convergence to feasible solutions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_01742
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Smooth Logic Constraints in Nonlinear Optimization and Optimal Control Problems
Wehbeh, J.
Kerrigan, E. C.
Systems and Control
49N35 (Primary) 90C11, 49M29 (Secondary)
In some optimal control problems, complex relationships between states and inputs cannot be easily represented using continuous constraints, necessitating the use of discrete logic instead. This paper presents a method for incorporating such logic constraints directly within continuous optimization frameworks, eliminating the need for binary variables or specialized solvers. Our approach reformulates arbitrary logic constraints under minimal assumptions as max-min constraints, which are then smoothed by introducing auxiliary variables into the optimization problem. When these reformulated constraints are satisfied, they guarantee that the original logical conditions hold, ensuring correctness in the optimization process. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this method on two planar quadrotor control tasks with complex logic constraints. Compared to existing techniques for encoding logic in continuous optimization, our approach achieves faster computational performance and improved convergence to feasible solutions.
title Smooth Logic Constraints in Nonlinear Optimization and Optimal Control Problems
topic Systems and Control
49N35 (Primary) 90C11, 49M29 (Secondary)
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.01742