SYLGOCMLFeb 15, 2024

Online Control of Linear Systems under Unbounded Noise

arXiv:2402.10252v2h-index: 2
Originality Highly original
AI Analysis

This addresses a limitation in online control theory by handling unbounded noise, which is more realistic than prior bounded-noise assumptions.

The paper tackles controlling linear systems with unbounded stochastic noise and unknown convex cost functions, achieving an Õ(√T) high-probability regret bound under noise with finite fourth moments, and an O(poly(log T)) bound for strongly convex costs with sub-Gaussian noise.

This paper investigates the problem of controlling a linear system under possibly unbounded stochastic noise with unknown convex cost functions, known as an online control problem. In contrast to the existing work, which assumes the boundedness of noise, we show that an $ \tilde{O}(\sqrt{T}) $ high-probability regret can be achieved under unbounded noise, where $ T $ denotes the time horizon. Notably, the noise is only required to have a finite fourth moment. Moreover, when the costs are strongly convex and the noise is sub-Gaussian, we establish an $ O({\rm poly} (\log T)) $ regret bound.

Foundations

The foundational work for this paper's niche, ranked by how specifically the neighbourhood builds on it — not by global fame.

Your Notes