Michael A. Bolender

h-index33
2papers
5,134citations

2 Papers

8.0OCMay 4, 2020
Accelerated Learning with Robustness to Adversarial Regressors

Joseph E. Gaudio, Anuradha M. Annaswamy, José M. Moreu et al.

High order momentum-based parameter update algorithms have seen widespread applications in training machine learning models. Recently, connections with variational approaches have led to the derivation of new learning algorithms with accelerated learning guarantees. Such methods however, have only considered the case of static regressors. There is a significant need for parameter update algorithms which can be proven stable in the presence of adversarial time-varying regressors, as is commonplace in control theory. In this paper, we propose a new discrete time algorithm which 1) provides stability and asymptotic convergence guarantees in the presence of adversarial regressors by leveraging insights from adaptive control theory and 2) provides non-asymptotic accelerated learning guarantees leveraging insights from convex optimization. In particular, our algorithm reaches an $ε$ sub-optimal point in at most $\tilde{\mathcal{O}}(1/\sqrtε)$ iterations when regressors are constant - matching lower bounds due to Nesterov of $Ω(1/\sqrtε)$, up to a $\log(1/ε)$ factor and provides guaranteed bounds for stability when regressors are time-varying. We provide numerical experiments for a variant of Nesterov's provably hard convex optimization problem with time-varying regressors, as well as the problem of recovering an image with a time-varying blur and noise using streaming data.

12.1OCMar 12, 2019
Provably Correct Learning Algorithms in the Presence of Time-Varying Features Using a Variational Perspective

Joseph E. Gaudio, Travis E. Gibson, Anuradha M. Annaswamy et al.

Features in machine learning problems are often time-varying and may be related to outputs in an algebraic or dynamical manner. The dynamic nature of these machine learning problems renders current higher order accelerated gradient descent methods unstable or weakens their convergence guarantees. Inspired by methods employed in adaptive control, this paper proposes new algorithms for the case when time-varying features are present, and demonstrates provable performance guarantees. In particular, we develop a unified variational perspective within a continuous time algorithm. This variational perspective includes higher order learning concepts and normalization, both of which stem from adaptive control, and allows stability to be established for dynamical machine learning problems where time-varying features are present. These higher order algorithms are also examined for provably correct learning in adaptive control and identification. Simulations are provided to verify the theoretical results.