arXiv Machine Learning

Data-Driven Stochastic Optimal Control in Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Spaces

The paper presents a fully data-driven method for optimal control of nonlinear control‑affine systems modeled as stochastic diffusions. It embeds state probability densities into a reproducing kernel Hilbert space to learn Markov transition operators, which are then used in convex operator‑theoretic Hamilton‑Jacobi‑Bellman recursions that scale linearly with state dimensionality. Numerical experiments show the approach can solve diverse nonlinear control tasks, such as depth regulation of an autonomous underwater vehicle.

arXiv Machine Learning
Oct 12

Infinitesimal Operator World Models: Finite-Sample Guarantees for Offline Reinforcement Learning

The paper introduces an operator-theoretic approach to offline reinforcement learning for continuous-time stochastic systems. By linking reinforcement learning to the Hamilton‑Jacobi‑Bellman equation, it proposes a dynamic programming recursion that represents the world model through the infinitesimal generator of controlled diffusion processes learned in a reproducing kernel Hilbert space. The authors establish global convergence of the value function under small generator‑approximation error and provide explicit finite‑sample guarantees tied to system properties such as smoothness and stability.

By Nicolas Hoischen, Petar Bevanda, Max Beier, Stefan Sosnowski, Boris Houska, Sandra Hirche
arXiv Machine Learning
Aug 26

Sequential operator learning under dependent data

The paper presents time‑uniform self‑normalized concentration bounds for stochastic processes in Hilbert spaces with vector‑valued noise, enabling regression‑error guarantees for both linear and nonlinear parametric operators. These results apply to possibly infinite‑dimensional inputs and outputs without requiring independence or mixing assumptions, and are derived in the context of sequentially collected, dependent data such as adaptive experimental design and dynamical‑system modelling.

By Rafael Oliveira
arXiv Machine Learning
1d ago

Continuous-Time Policy Gradient from Discrete Data: Convergence Analysis and Model-Free Algorithms

The paper introduces a continuous‑time policy gradient framework that works with discrete observation data. It derives performance difference lemmas and policy gradient formulas for randomized and parametrized policies, proving exponential convergence for an entropy‑regularized policy flow and providing explicit convergence bounds for discrete updates. By integrating with PhiBE, the authors create model‑free actor‑critic algorithms that maintain the continuous‑time structure, and demonstrate their effectiveness on both linear‑quadratic and nonlinear robotic control tasks.

By Martin Hernandez, Xinyan Qing, Mo Zhou, Yuhua Zhu
arXiv Machine Learning
Sep 15

Learning to Solve Stochastic Controls with Unknown Drifts and Running Rewards: Theory, Algorithms and Convergence

The paper investigates continuous‑time stochastic control problems with unknown drift and running reward functions, using an exploratory reinforcement learning framework that incorporates relaxed controls and entropy regularization. It develops policy‑iteration algorithms based on probabilistic representations of the optimal value function and its gradient, proving convergence and demonstrating performance through numerical examples. The study also extends to a special case with control‑dependent diffusion, requiring a Hessian representation.

By Jin Ma, Gaozhan Wang, Jianfeng Zhang, Xunyu Zhou
arXiv Machine Learning
Jul 30

Learning Controlled Stochastic Differential Equations

arXiv:2411. 01982v2 Announce Type: replace-cross Abstract: We study the problem of learning controlled stochastic differential equations (SDEs) \[ dX_t = b(t,X_t,u_t)\,dt + \sigma(t,X_t,u_t)\,dW_t, \] whose drift and diffusion depend nonlinearly on time, state, and control values.

By Luc Brogat-Motte, Riccardo Bonalli, Alessandro Rudi
arXiv Machine Learning
Sep 18

Demystifying Linear Operator Learning for Control Systems

The paper introduces a structured method for learning linear operators in control systems using data. It leverages the framework of (semi)groups for evolution equations to establish structural assumptions and applies inverse‑problems theory to analyze learning algorithms, revealing error decompositions, convergence guarantees, and optimal regularization. Focusing on bounded operators on Hilbert spaces, the authors derive a convergent estimator for time‑varying systems, illustrating the practical power of their approach.

By Max Beier, Nicolas Hoischen, Sandra Hirche, Petar Bevanda
arXiv Machine Learning
21h ago

A Decade of Learning-Based Control: From Theoretic Foundations to Practical Deployment

arXiv:2610.29187v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: Motivated by ten years of Learning-Based Control Invited Sessions at the IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (CDC), this tutorial paper reviews k...

By Angela P. Schoellig, Matthias A. M\"uller, Sebastian Trimpe, Melanie N. Zeilinger, Mahathi Anand, Andrea Carron, Oliver Hausd\"orfer, Victor G. Lopez, Friedrich Solowjow, Haocheng Zhao, Siqi Zhou