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Main Authors: Baltussen, T. M. J. T., Orrico, C. A., Katriniok, A., Heemels, W. P. M. H., Krishnamoorthy, D.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.05804
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author Baltussen, T. M. J. T.
Orrico, C. A.
Katriniok, A.
Heemels, W. P. M. H.
Krishnamoorthy, D.
author_facet Baltussen, T. M. J. T.
Orrico, C. A.
Katriniok, A.
Heemels, W. P. M. H.
Krishnamoorthy, D.
contents We present a novel method to synthesize a terminal cost function for a nonlinear model predictive controller (MPC) through value function approximation using supervised learning. Existing methods enforce a descent property on the terminal cost function by construction, thereby restricting the class of terminal cost functions, which in turn can limit the performance and applicability of the MPC. We present a method to approximate the true cost-to-go with a general function approximator that is convex in its parameters, and impose the descent condition on a finite number of states. Through the scenario approach, we provide probabilistic guarantees on the descent condition of the terminal cost function over the continuous state space. We demonstrate and empirically verify our method in a numerical example. By learning a terminal cost function, the prediction horizon of the MPC can be significantly reduced, resulting in reduced online computational complexity while maintaining good closed-loop performance.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_05804
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Value Function Approximation for Nonlinear MPC: Learning a Terminal Cost Function with a Descent Property
Baltussen, T. M. J. T.
Orrico, C. A.
Katriniok, A.
Heemels, W. P. M. H.
Krishnamoorthy, D.
Optimization and Control
We present a novel method to synthesize a terminal cost function for a nonlinear model predictive controller (MPC) through value function approximation using supervised learning. Existing methods enforce a descent property on the terminal cost function by construction, thereby restricting the class of terminal cost functions, which in turn can limit the performance and applicability of the MPC. We present a method to approximate the true cost-to-go with a general function approximator that is convex in its parameters, and impose the descent condition on a finite number of states. Through the scenario approach, we provide probabilistic guarantees on the descent condition of the terminal cost function over the continuous state space. We demonstrate and empirically verify our method in a numerical example. By learning a terminal cost function, the prediction horizon of the MPC can be significantly reduced, resulting in reduced online computational complexity while maintaining good closed-loop performance.
title Value Function Approximation for Nonlinear MPC: Learning a Terminal Cost Function with a Descent Property
topic Optimization and Control
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.05804