Bayesian optimization for high-dimensional, adaptive, and safe controller learning
Events

Bayesian optimization for high-dimensional, adaptive, and safe controller learning

FEBRUARY 26, 2024

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Speaker: Prof. Sebastian Trimpe 

DEIB - Seminar Room "N. Schiavoni" (Bld. 20)
February 26th, 2024
3.00 pm

Contact:  Prof. Simone Formentin

Research Line: Control systems

Abstract

On February 26th, 2024 at 3.00 pm the seminar "Bayesian optimization for high-dimensional, adaptive, and safe controller learning" will take place at Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Seminar Room "Nicola Schiavoni" (Building 20).

Optimizing controller parameters is ubiquitous in engineering, demanding precise tuning for performance and adaptability across diverse tasks. Bayesian Optimization (BO) has emerged as a prime approach, offering a versatile framework for efficient and systematic parameter learning from few experimental trials. In this talk, we present new BO algorithms tailored to confront challenges in learning control: (i) a fusion of BO and gradient methods designed for high-dimensional problems, (ii) event-triggered BO facilitating flexible adaptation to time-varying settings, and (iii) enhanced safe BO methods tackling critical gaps in safe learning.
In addition to introducing new algorithms and theory, the presentation will showcase the practical application of these algorithms through experimental results on robots and cars.

Short Bio

Sebastian Trimpe is a Full Professor at RWTH Aachen University, where he heads the Institute for Data Science in Mechanical Engineering (DSME) since May 2020.  Additionally, he is a founding director of the RWTH Center for Artificial Intelligence and, as of 2023, serves as one of its two Executive Directors.  Sebastian's research focuses on fundamental questions at the crossroads of machine learning, control, networked systems, and robotics, with innovative applications thereof.  Prior to his role at RWTH, he was a Max Planck Research Group Leader (W2) at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Tübingen/Stuttgart.  Sebastian earned his Ph.D. degree in 2013 from ETH Zurich, working with Raffaello D'Andrea at the Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control.  His academic journey includes a B.Sc. in General Engineering Science (2005), an M.Sc. (Dipl.-Ing.) in Electrical Engineering (2007), and an MBA degree in Technology Management (2007), all from Hamburg University of Technology.  Sebastian is recipient of the triennial IFAC World Congress Interactive Paper Prize (2011), the Klaus Tschira Award for achievements in public understanding of science (2014), the Best Paper Award of the International Conference on Cyber-Physical Systems (2019), and the Future Prize by the Ewald Marquardt Stiftung for innovations in control engineering (2020).
More info at https://www.dsme.rwth-aachen.de/