arXiv subjects

James Usevitch

Publications and source records attributed to James Usevitch.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Adversarial Robustness for Matrix Control Barrier Functions in Sampled-Data Systems

This paper presents novel theoretical results to guarantee multi-agent set invariance using Matrix Control Barrier Functions in sampled-data systems. More specifically, the paper presents conditions under which heterogeneous control-affine agents applying zero-order-hold control inputs can compute control inputs to render safe sets defined by matrix inequalities forward invariant. It then introduces methods to guarantee set invariance while accounting for the presence of adversarial agents seeking to drive the system state to unsafe sets. Finally, the paper presents theoretical extensions of these set invariance results to systems having high relative degree with respect to the matrix-valued safe set function.

math.OC↗

arXiv2026

Distributed Control Barrier Functions for Safe Multi-Vehicle Navigation in Heterogeneous USV Fleets

Collision avoidance in heterogeneous fleets of uncrewed vessels is challenging because the decision-making processes and controllers often differ between platforms, and it is further complicated by the limitations on sharing trajectories and control values in real-time. This paper presents a pragmatic approach that addresses these issues by adding a control filter on each autonomous vehicle that assumes worst-case behavior from other contacts, including crewed vessels. This distributed safety control filter is developed using control barrier function (CBF) theory and the application is clearly described to ensure explainability of these safety-critical methods. This work compares the worst-case CBF approach with a Collision Regulations (COLREGS) behavior-based approach in simulated encounters. Real-world experiments with three different uncrewed vessels and a human operated vessel were performed to confirm the approach is effective across a range of platforms and is robust to uncooperative behavior from human operators. Results show that combining both CBF methods and COLREGS behaviors achieves the best safety and efficiency.

cs.RO↗

arXiv2025

Automatic Grid Updates for Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks using Layer Histograms

Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks (KANs) are a class of neural networks that have received increased attention in recent literature. In contrast to MLPs, KANs leverage parameterized, trainable activation functions and offer several benefits including improved interpretability and higher accuracy on learning symbolic equations. However, the original KAN architecture requires adjustments to the domain discretization of the network (called the "domain grid") during training, creating extra overhead for the user in the training process. Typical KAN layers are not designed with the ability to autonomously update their domains in a data-driven manner informed by the changing output ranges of previous layers. As an added benefit, this histogram algorithm may also be applied towards detecting out-of-distribution (OOD) inputs in a variety of settings. We demonstrate that AdaptKAN exceeds or matches the performance of prior KAN architectures and MLPs on four different tasks: learning scientific equations from the Feynman dataset, image classification from frozen features, learning a control Lyapunov function, and detecting OOD inputs on the OpenOOD v1.5 benchmark.

cs.LG↗

arXiv2025

Computing Safe Control Inputs using Discrete-Time Matrix Control Barrier Functions via Convex Optimization

Control barrier functions (CBFs) have seen widespread success in providing forward invariance and safety guarantees for dynamical control systems. A crucial limitation of discrete-time formulations is that CBFs that are nonconcave in their argument require the solution of nonconvex optimization problems to compute safety-preserving control inputs, which inhibits real-time computation of control inputs guaranteeing forward invariance. This paper presents a novel method for computing safety-preserving control inputs for discrete-time systems with nonconvex safety sets, utilizing convex optimization and the recently developed class of matrix control barrier function techniques. The efficacy of our methods is demonstrated through numerical simulations on a bicopter system.

eess.SY↗

arXiv2025

Predictive Control Barrier Functions for Discrete-Time Linear Systems with Unmodeled Delays

This paper introduces a predictive control barrier function (PCBF) framework for enforcing state constraints in discrete-time systems with unknown relative degree, which can be caused by input delays or unmodeled input dynamics. Existing discrete-time CBF formulations typically require the construction of auxiliary barrier functions when the relative degree is greater than one, which complicates implementation and may yield conservative safe sets. The proposed PCBF framework addresses this challenge by extending the prediction horizon to construct a CBF for an associated system with relative degree one. As a result, the superlevel set of the PCBF coincides with the safe set, simplifying constraint enforcement and eliminating the need for auxiliary functions. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated on a discrete-time double integrator with input delay and a bicopter system with position constraints.

eess.SY↗

arXiv2025

Triangle-Decomposable Graphs for Isoperimetric Robots

Isoperimetric robots are large scale, untethered inflatable robots that can undergo large shape changes, but have only been demonstrated in one 3D shape -- an octahedron. These robots consist of independent triangles that can change shape while maintaining their perimeter by moving the relative position of their joints. We introduce an optimization routine that determines if an arbitrary graph can be partitioned into unique triangles, and thus be constructed as an isoperimetric robotic system. We enumerate all minimally rigid graphs that can be constructed with unique triangles up to 9 nodes (7 triangles), and characterize the workspace of one node of each these robots. We also present a method for constructing larger graphs that can be partitioned by assembling subgraphs that are already partitioned into triangles. This enables a wide variety of isoperimetric robot configurations.

cs.RO↗

arXiv2025

Safety for Time-Varying Parameterized Sets Using Control Barrier Function Methods

A fundamental and classical problem in mobile autonomous systems is maintaining the safety of autonomous agents during deployment. Prior literature has presented techniques using control barrier functions (CBFs) to achieve this goal. These prior techniques utilize CBFs to keep an isolated point in state space away from the unsafe set. However, various situations require a non-singleton set of states to be kept away from an unsafe set. Prior literature has addressed this problem using nonsmooth CBF methods, but no prior work has solved this problem using only "smooth" CBF methods. This paper addresses this gap by presenting a novel method of applying CBF methods to non-singleton parameterized convex sets. The method ensures differentiability of the squared distance function between ego and obstacle sets by leveraging a form of the log-sum-exp function to form strictly convex, arbitrarily tight overapproximations of these sets. Safety-preserving control inputs can be computed via convex optimization formulations. The efficacy of our results is demonstrated through multi-agent simulations.

math.OC↗

arXiv2023

Advances in the Theory of Control Barrier Functions: Addressing Practical Challenges in Safe Control Synthesis for Autonomous and Robotic Systems

This tutorial paper presents recent work of the authors that extends the theory of Control Barrier Functions (CBFs) to address practical challenges in the synthesis of safe controllers for autonomous systems and robots. We present novel CBFs and methods that handle safety constraints (i) with time and input constraints under disturbances, (ii) with high-relative degree under disturbances and input constraints, and (iii) that are affected by adversarial inputs and sampled-data effects. We then present novel CBFs and adaptation methods that prevent loss of validity of the CBF, as well as methods to tune the parameters of the CBF online to reduce conservatism in the system response. We also address the pointwise-only optimal character of CBF-induced control inputs by introducing a CBF formulation that accounts for future trajectories, as well as implementation challenges such as how to preserve safety when using output feedback control and zero-order-hold control. Finally we consider how to synthesize non-smooth CBFs when discontinuous inputs and multiple constraints are present.

math.OC↗

arXiv2021

Adversarial Resilience for Sampled-Data Systems under High-Relative-Degree Safety Constraints

Control barrier functions (CBFs) have recently become a powerful method for rendering desired safe sets forward invariant in single- and multi-agent systems. In the multi-agent case, prior literature has considered scenarios where all agents cooperate to ensure that the corresponding set remains invariant. However, these works do not consider scenarios where a subset of the agents are behaving adversarially with the intent to violate safety bounds. In addition, prior results on multi-agent CBFs typically assume that control inputs are continuous and do not consider sampled-data dynamics. This paper presents a framework for normally-behaving agents in a multi-agent system with heterogeneous control-affine, sampled-data dynamics to render a safe set forward invariant in the presence of adversarial agents. The proposed approach considers several aspects of practical control systems including input constraints, clock asynchrony and disturbances, and distributed calculation of control inputs. Our approach also considers functions describing safe sets having high relative degree with respect to system dynamics. The efficacy of these results are demonstrated through simulations.

math.OC↗

arXiv2020

Strong Invariance Using Control Barrier Functions: A Clarke Tangent Cone Approach

Many control applications require that a system be constrained to a particular set of states, often termed as safe set. A practical and flexible method for rendering safe sets forward-invariant involves computing control input using Control Barrier Functions and Quadratic Programming methods. Many prior results however require the resulting control input to be continuous, which requires strong assumptions or can be difficult to demonstrate theoretically. In this paper we use differential inclusion methods to show that simultaneously rendering multiple sets invariant can be accomplished using a discontinuous control input. We present an optimization formulation which computes such control inputs and which can be posed in multiple forms, including a feasibility problem, a linear program, or a quadratic program. In addition, we discuss conditions under which the optimization problem is feasible and show that any feasible solution of the considered optimization problem which is measurable renders the multiple safe sets forward invariant.

math.OC↗

arXiv2020

Resilient Finite Time Consensus: A Discontinuous Systems Perspective

Many algorithms have been proposed in prior literature to guarantee resilient multi-agent consensus in the presence of adversarial attacks or faults. The majority of prior work present excellent results that focus on discrete-time or discretized continuous-time systems. Fewer authors have explored applying similar resilient techniques to continuous-time systems without discretization. These prior works typically consider asymptotic convergence and make assumptions such as continuity of adversarial signals, the existence of a dwell time between switching instances for the system dynamics, or the existence of trusted agents that do not misbehave. In this paper, we expand the study of resilient continuous-time systems by removing many of these assumptions and using discontinuous systems theory to provide conditions for normally-behaving agents with nonlinear dynamics to achieve consensus in finite time despite the presence of adversarial agents.

eess.SY↗

arXiv2019

Resilient Leader-Follower Consensus with Time-Varying Leaders in Discrete-Time Systems

The problem of consensus in the presence of adversarially behaving agents has been studied extensively in the literature. The proposed algorithms typically guarantee that the consensus value lies within the convex hull of initial normal agents' states. In leader-follower consensus problems however, the objective for normally behaving agents is to track a time-varying reference state that may take on values outside of this convex hull. In this paper we present a method for agents with discrete-time dynamics to resiliently track a set of leaders' common time-varying reference state despite a bounded subset of the leaders and followers behaving adversarially. The efficacy of our results are demonstrated through simulations.

eess.SY↗

arXiv2019

Resilient Leader-Follower Consensus to Arbitrary Reference Values in Time-Varying Graphs

Several algorithms in prior literature have been proposed which guarantee consensus of normally behaving agents in a network that may contain adversarially behaving agents. These algorithms guarantee that the consensus value lies within the convex hull of initial normal agents' states, with the exact consensus value possibly being unknown. In leader-follower consensus problems however, the objective is for normally behaving agents to track a reference state that may take on values outside of this convex hull. In this paper we present methods for agents in time-varying graphs with discrete-time dynamics to resiliently track a reference state propagated by a set of leaders despite a bounded subset of the leaders and followers behaving adversarially. Our results are demonstrated through simulations.

eess.SY↗

arXiv2019

Determining r- and (r,s)-Robustness of Digraphs Using Mixed Integer Linear Programming

There has been an increase in the use of resilient control algorithms based on the graph theoretic properties of $r$- and $(r,s)$-robustness. These algorithms guarantee consensus of normally behaving agents in the presence of a bounded number of arbitrarily misbehaving agents if the values of the integers $r$ and $s$ are sufficiently large. However, determining an arbitrary graph's robustness is a highly nontrivial problem. This paper introduces a novel method for determining the $r$- and $(r,s)$-robustness of digraphs using mixed integer linear programming; to the best of the authors' knowledge it is the first time that mixed integer programming methods have been applied to the robustness determination problem. The approach only requires knowledge of the graph Laplacian matrix, and can be formulated with binary integer variables. Mixed integer programming algorithms such as branch-and-bound are used to iteratively tighten the lower and upper bounds on $r$ and $s$. Simulations are presented which compare the performance of this approach to prior robustness determination algorithms.

cs.MA↗

arXiv2018

Determining r-Robustness of Digraphs Using Mixed Integer Linear Programming

Convergence guarantees of many resilient consensus algorithms are based on the graph theoretic properties of $r$- and $(r,s)$-robustness. These algorithms guarantee consensus of normally behaving agents in the presence of a bounded number of arbitrarily misbehaving agents if the values of the integers $r$ and $s$ are sufficiently high. However, determining the largest integer $r$ for which an arbitrary digraph is $r$-robust is highly nontrivial. This paper introduces a novel method for calculating this value using mixed integer linear programming. The method only requires knowledge of the graph Laplacian matrix, and can be formulated with affine objective and constraints, except for the integer constraint. Integer programming methods such as branch-and-bound can allow both lower and upper bounds on $r$ to be iteratively tightened. Simulations suggest the proposed method demonstrates greater efficiency than prior algorithms.

eess.SY↗

arXiv2018

Finite-Time Resilient Formation Control with Bounded Inputs

In this paper we consider the problem of a multi-agent system achieving a formation in the presence of misbehaving or adversarial agents. We introduce a novel continuous time resilient controller to guarantee that normally behaving agents can converge to a formation with respect to a set of leaders. The controller employs a norm-based filtering mechanism, and unlike most prior algorithms, also incorporates input bounds. In addition, the controller is shown to guarantee convergence in finite time. A sufficient condition for the controller to guarantee convergence is shown to be a graph theoretical structure which we denote as Resilient Directed Acyclic Graph (RDAG). Further, we employ our filtering mechanism on a discrete time system which is shown to have exponential convergence. Our results are demonstrated through simulations.

eess.SY↗

arXiv2018

Resilient Leader-Follower Consensus to Arbitrary Reference Values

The problem of consensus in the presence of misbehaving agents has increasingly attracted attention in the literature. Prior results have established algorithms and graph structures for multi-agent networks which guarantee the consensus of normally behaving agents in the presence of a bounded number of misbehaving agents. The final consensus value is guaranteed to fall within the convex hull of initial agent states. However, the problem of consensus tracking considers consensus to arbitrary reference values which may not lie within such bounds. Conditions for consensus tracking in the presence of misbehaving agents has not been fully studied. This paper presents conditions for a network of agents using the W-MSR algorithm to achieve this objective.

eess.SY↗

arXiv2017

r-Robustness and (r,s)-Robustness of Circulant Graphs

There has been recent growing interest in graph theoretical properties known as r- and (r,s)-robustness. These properties serve as sufficient conditions guaranteeing the success of certain consensus algorithms in networks with misbehaving agents present. Due to the complexity of determining the robustness for an arbitrary graph, several methods have previously been proposed for identifying the robustness of specific classes of graphs or constructing graphs with specified robustness levels. The majority of such approaches have focused on undirected graphs. In this paper we identify a class of scalable directed graphs whose edge set is determined by a parameter k and prove that the robustness of these graphs is also determined by k. We support our results through computer simulations.

eess.SY↗