We propose a randomized gradient method – or a randomized cutting-plane method from a dual viewpoint. From the primal viewpoint, our method bears a resemblance to the stochastic approximation family. But in contrast to stochastic approximation, the present method builds a model problem. CitationKecskemet College, Pallasz Athene University. Izsaki ut 10, 6000 Kecskemet, Hungary; and … Read more
In this paper, we describe a new active-set algorithmic framework for minimizing a non-convex function over the unit simplex. At each iteration, the method makes use of a rule for identifying active variables (i.e., variables that are zero at a stationary point) and specific directions (that we name active-set gradient related directions) satisfying a new … Read more
Direct search methods are mainly designed for use in problems with no equality constraints. However, there are many instances where the feasible set is of measure zero in the ambient space and no mesh point lies within it. There are methods for working with feasible sets that are (Riemannian) manifolds, but not all manifolds are … Read more
For a symmetric positive semidefinite linear system of equations $\mathcal{Q} {\bf x} = {\bf b}$, where ${\bf x} = (x_1,\ldots,x_s)$ is partitioned into $s$ blocks, with $s \geq 2$, we show that each cycle of the classical block symmetric Gauss-Seidel (block sGS) method exactly solves the associated quadratic programming (QP) problem but added with an … Read more
The popular BFGS quasi-Newton minimization algorithm under reasonable conditions converges globally on smooth convex functions. This result was proved by Powell in 1976: we consider its implications for functions that are not smooth. In particular, an analogous convergence result holds for functions, like the Euclidean norm, that are nonsmooth at the minimizer. CitationManuscript: School of … Read more
The speed optimization problem over a path aims to find a set of speeds over each arc of the given path to minimize the total cost, while respecting the time-window constraint at each node and speed limits over each arc. In maritime transportation, the cost represents fuel cost or emissions, so study of this problem … Read more
We show that the evolution of a dynamical system driven by controls obtained by the solution of an embedded optimization problem (as done in MPC) can be cast as a differential variational inequality (DVI). The DVI abstraction reveals that standard sampled-data MPC implementations (in which the control law is computed using states that are sampled … Read more
The sparse bounded degree sum-of-squares (sparse-BSOS) hierarchy of Weisser, Lasserre and Toh [arXiv:1607.01151,2016] constructs a sequence of lower bounds for a sparse polynomial optimization problem. Under some assumptions, it is proven by the authors that the sequence converges to the optimal value. In this paper, we modify the hierarchy to deal with problems containing equality … Read more
We consider the problem of minimizing a continuous function f over a compact set K. We compare the hierarchy of upper bounds proposed by Lasserre in [SIAM J. Optim. 21(3) (2011), pp. 864-885] to bounds that may be obtained from simulated annealing. We show that, when f is a polynomial and K a convex body, … Read more
We prove an extension of Yuan’s Lemma to more than two matrices, as long as the set of matrices has rank at most 2. This is used to generalize the main result of [A. Baccari and A. Trad. On the classical necessary second-order optimality conditions in the presence of equality and inequality constraints. SIAM J. … Read more