Leveraging Equivariances and Symmetries in the Control Barrier Function Synthesis

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Wiltz, Adrian, Dimarogonas, Dimos V.
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Wiltz, Adrian
Dimarogonas, Dimos V.
author_facet Wiltz, Adrian
Dimarogonas, Dimos V.
contents The synthesis of Control Barrier Functions (CBFs) often involves demanding computations or a meticulous construction. However, structural properties of the system dynamics and constraints have the potential to mitigate these challenges. In this paper, we explore how equivariances in the dynamics, loosely speaking a form of symmetry, can be leveraged in the CBF synthesis. Although CBFs are generally not inherently symmetric, we show how equivariances in the dynamics and symmetries in the constraints induce symmetries in CBFs derived through reachability analysis. This insight allows us to infer their CBF values across the entire domain from their values on a subset, leading to significant computational savings. Interestingly, equivariances can be even leveraged to the CBF synthesis for non-symmetric constraints. Specifically, we show how a partially known CBF can be leveraged together with equivariances to construct a CBF for various new constraints. Throughout the paper, we provide examples illustrating the theoretical findings. Furthermore, a numerical study investigates the computational gains from invoking equivariances into the CBF synthesis.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_04399
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Leveraging Equivariances and Symmetries in the Control Barrier Function Synthesis
Wiltz, Adrian
Dimarogonas, Dimos V.
Systems and Control
Robotics
The synthesis of Control Barrier Functions (CBFs) often involves demanding computations or a meticulous construction. However, structural properties of the system dynamics and constraints have the potential to mitigate these challenges. In this paper, we explore how equivariances in the dynamics, loosely speaking a form of symmetry, can be leveraged in the CBF synthesis. Although CBFs are generally not inherently symmetric, we show how equivariances in the dynamics and symmetries in the constraints induce symmetries in CBFs derived through reachability analysis. This insight allows us to infer their CBF values across the entire domain from their values on a subset, leading to significant computational savings. Interestingly, equivariances can be even leveraged to the CBF synthesis for non-symmetric constraints. Specifically, we show how a partially known CBF can be leveraged together with equivariances to construct a CBF for various new constraints. Throughout the paper, we provide examples illustrating the theoretical findings. Furthermore, a numerical study investigates the computational gains from invoking equivariances into the CBF synthesis.
title Leveraging Equivariances and Symmetries in the Control Barrier Function Synthesis
topic Systems and Control
Robotics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.04399