We present a trust-region steepest descent method for dynamic optimal control problems with binary-valued integrable control functions. Our method interprets the control function as an indicator function of a measurable set and makes set-valued adjustments derived from the sublevel sets of a topological gradient function. By combining this type of update with a trust-region framework, … Read more
This work presents a convex-optimization-based framework for analysis and control of nonlinear partial differential equations. The approach uses a particular weak embedding of the nonlinear PDE, resulting in a \emph{linear} equation in the space of Borel measures. This equation is then used as a constraint of an infinite-dimensional linear programming problem (LP). This LP is … Read more
Methods for distributed optimization have received significant attention in recent years owing to their wide applicability in various domains including machine learning, robotics and sensor networks. A distributed optimization method typically consists of two key components: communication and computation. More specifically, at every iteration (or every several iterations) of a distributed algorithm, each node in … Read more
We analyze the structure of the Euler-Lagrange conditions of a lifted long-horizon optimal control problem. The analysis reveals that the conditions can be solved by using block Gauss-Seidel schemes and we prove that such schemes can be implemented by solving sequences of short-horizon problems. The analysis also reveals that a receding-horizon control scheme is equivalent … Read more
In this paper we propose two dual decomposition methods based on inexact dual gradient information for solving large-scale smooth convex optimization problems. The complicating constraints are moved into the cost using the Lagrange multipliers. The dual problem is solved by inexact first order methods based on approximate gradients and we prove sublinear rate of convergence … Read more
In this paper is presented the problem of optimizing a functional over a Pareto control set associated with a convex multiobjective control problem in Hilbert spaces, namely parabolic system. This approach generalizes for this setting some results obtained in finite dimensions. Some examples are presented. General optimality results are obtained, and a special attention is … Read more
Many physical phenomena, governed by partial differential equations (PDEs), are second order in nature. This makes sense to pose the control on the second order derivatives of the field solution, in addition to zero and first order ones, to consistently control the underlaying process. However, this type of control is nontrivial and to the best … Read more
The automatic optimal design of feeding system in the shape casting process is considered in the present work. In fact, the goal is to find the optimal position, size, shape and topology of risers in the shape casting process. This problem is formulated as a minimum weight topology optimization problem subjected to a nonlinear transient … Read more
We are interested in structures and efficient methods for mixed-integer nonlinear programs (MINLP) that arise from a first discretize, then optimize approach to time-dependent mixed-integer optimal control problems (MIOCPs). In this study we focus on combinatorial constraints, in particular on restrictions on the number of switches on a fixed time grid. We propose a novel … Read more
In this paper we study the optimal control problem of the heat equation by a distributed control over a subset of the domain, in the presence of a state constraint. The latter is integral over the space and has to be satisfied at each time. Using for the first time the technique of alternative optimality … Read more