Linear conic optimization for inverse optimal control

We address the inverse problem of Lagrangian identification based on trajectories in the context of nonlinear optimal control. We propose a general formulation of the inverse problem based on occupation measures and complementarity in linear programming. The use of occupation measures in this context offers several advantages from the theoretical, numerical and statistical points of … Read more

Semi-definite relaxations for optimal control problems with oscillation and concentration effects

Converging hierarchies of finite-dimensional semi-definite relaxations have been proposed for state-constrained optimal control problems featuring oscillation phenomena, by relaxing controls as Young measures. These semi-definite relaxations were later on extended to optimal control problems depending linearly on the control input and typically featuring concentration phenomena, interpreting the control as a measure of time with a … Read more

A Polynomial-Time Affine-Scaling Method for Semidefinite and Hyperbolic Programming

We develop a natural variant of Dikin’s affine-scaling method, first for semidefinite programming and then for hyperbolic programming in general. We match the best complexity bounds known for interior-point methods. All previous polynomial-time affine-scaling algorithms have been for conic optimization problems in which the underlying cone is symmetric. Hyperbolicity cones, however, need not be symmetric. … Read more

Improvement of Kalai-Kleitman bound for the diameter of a polyhedron

Recently, Todd got a new bound on the diameter of a polyhedron using an analysis due to Kalai and Kleitman in 1992. In this short note, we prove that the bound by Todd can further be improved. Although our bound is not valid when the dimension is 1 or 2, it is tight when the … Read more

Decomposition theorems for linear programs

It is well known that any feasible arc-flow solution to a network problem defined on a graph $G = (N, A)$, where $N$ is the set of nodes whereas $A$ is the set of arcs, can be expressed using at most $|A| + |N|$ paths and cycles having nonzero flow, out of these, at most … Read more

Tools for primal degenerate linear programs: IPS, DCA, and PE

This paper describes three recent tools for dealing with primal degeneracy in linear programming. The first one is the Improved Primal Simplex (IPS) algorithm which turns degeneracy into a possible advantage. The constraints of the original problem are dynamically partitioned based on the numerical values of the current basic variables. The idea is to work … Read more

Efficient First-Order Methods for Linear Programming and Semidefinite Programming

We present a simple transformation of any linear program or semidefinite program into an equivalent convex optimization problem whose only constraints are linear equations. The objective function is defined on the whole space, making virtually all subgradient methods be immediately applicable. We observe, moreover, that the objective function is naturally “smoothed,” thereby allowing most first-order … Read more

A Gentle, Geometric Introduction to Copositive Optimization

This paper illustrates the fundamental connection between nonconvex quadratic optimization and copositive optimization—a connection that allows the reformulation of nonconvex quadratic problems as convex ones in a unified way. We intend the paper for readers new to the area, and hence the exposition is largely self-contained. We focus on examples having just a few variables … Read more