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Main Authors: Zhang, Hongchao, Kazma, Mohamad H., Ma, Meiyi, Johnson, Taylor T., Taha, Ahmad F.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.13509
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author Zhang, Hongchao
Kazma, Mohamad H.
Ma, Meiyi
Johnson, Taylor T.
Taha, Ahmad F.
author_facet Zhang, Hongchao
Kazma, Mohamad H.
Ma, Meiyi
Johnson, Taylor T.
Taha, Ahmad F.
contents Differential-algebraic equations (DAEs) arise in power networks, chemical processes, and multibody systems, where algebraic constraints encode physical conservation laws. The safety of such systems is critical, yet safe control is challenging because algebraic constraints restrict allowable state trajectories. Control barrier functions (CBFs) provide computationally efficient safety filters for ordinary differential equation (ODE) systems. However, existing CBF methods are not directly applicable to DAEs due to potential conflicts between the CBF condition and the constraint manifold. This paper introduces DAE-aware CBFs that incorporate the differential-algebraic structure through projected vector fields. We derive conditions that ensure forward invariance of safe sets while preserving algebraic constraints and extend the framework to higher-index DAEs. A systematic verification framework is developed, establishing necessary and sufficient conditions for geometric correctness and feasibility of DAE-aware CBFs. For polynomial systems, sum-of-squares certificates are provided, while for nonpolynomial and neural network candidates, satisfiability modulo theories are used for falsification. The approach is validated on wind turbine and flexible-link manipulator systems.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_13509
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Verification and Forward Invariance of Control Barrier Functions for Differential-Algebraic Systems
Zhang, Hongchao
Kazma, Mohamad H.
Ma, Meiyi
Johnson, Taylor T.
Taha, Ahmad F.
Systems and Control
Robotics
Differential-algebraic equations (DAEs) arise in power networks, chemical processes, and multibody systems, where algebraic constraints encode physical conservation laws. The safety of such systems is critical, yet safe control is challenging because algebraic constraints restrict allowable state trajectories. Control barrier functions (CBFs) provide computationally efficient safety filters for ordinary differential equation (ODE) systems. However, existing CBF methods are not directly applicable to DAEs due to potential conflicts between the CBF condition and the constraint manifold. This paper introduces DAE-aware CBFs that incorporate the differential-algebraic structure through projected vector fields. We derive conditions that ensure forward invariance of safe sets while preserving algebraic constraints and extend the framework to higher-index DAEs. A systematic verification framework is developed, establishing necessary and sufficient conditions for geometric correctness and feasibility of DAE-aware CBFs. For polynomial systems, sum-of-squares certificates are provided, while for nonpolynomial and neural network candidates, satisfiability modulo theories are used for falsification. The approach is validated on wind turbine and flexible-link manipulator systems.
title Verification and Forward Invariance of Control Barrier Functions for Differential-Algebraic Systems
topic Systems and Control
Robotics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.13509