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Takashi Tanaka

Publications and source records attributed to Takashi Tanaka.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Rate-Distortion Analysis of Optically Passive Vision Compression

The use of remote vision sensors for autonomous decision-making poses the challenge of transmitting high-volume visual data over resource-constrained channels in real-time. In robotics and control applications, many systems can quickly destabilize, which can exacerbate the issue by necessitating higher sampling frequencies. This work proposes a novel sensing paradigm in which an event camera observes the optically generated cosine transform of a visual scene, enabling high-speed, computation-free video compression inspired by modern video codecs. In this study, we simulate this optically passive vision compression (OPVC) scheme and compare its rate-distortion performance to that of a standalone event camera (SAEC). We find that the rate-distortion performance of the OPVC scheme surpasses that of the SAEC and that this performance gap increases as the spatial resolution of the event camera increases.

cs.IT↗

Mean Field Analysis of Blockchain Systems

We present a novel framework for analyzing blockchain consensus mechanisms by modeling blockchain growth as a Partially Observable Stochastic Game (POSG) which we reduce to a set of Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes (POMDPs) through the use of the mean field approximation. This approach formalizes the decision-making process of miners in Proof-of-Work (PoW) systems and enables a principled examination of block selection strategies as well as steady state analysis of the induced Markov chain. By leveraging a mean field game formulation, we efficiently characterize the information asymmetries that arise in asynchronous blockchain networks. Our first main result is an exact characterization of the tradeoff between network delay and PoW efficiency--the fraction of blocks which end up in the longest chain. We demonstrate that the tradeoff observed in our model at steady state aligns closely with theoretical findings, validating our use of the mean field approximation. Our second main result is a rigorous equilibrium analysis of the Longest Chain Rule (LCR). We show that the LCR is a mean field equilibrium and that it is uniquely optimal in maximizing PoW efficiency under certain mild assumptions. This result provides the first formal justification for continued use of the LCR in decentralized consensus protocols, offering both theoretical validation and practical insights. Beyond these core results, our framework supports flexible experimentation with alternative block selection strategies, system dynamics, and reward structures. It offers a systematic and scalable substitute for expensive test-net deployments or ad hoc analysis. While our primary focus is on Nakamoto-style blockchains, the model is general enough to accommodate other architectures through modifications to the underlying MDP.

cs.GT↗

Client-Aided Secure Two-Party Computation of Dynamic Controllers

In this paper, we propose a secure two-party computation protocol for dynamic controllers using a secret sharing scheme. The proposed protocol realizes outsourcing of controller computation to two servers, while controller parameters, states, inputs, and outputs are kept secret against the servers. Unlike previous encrypted controls in a single-server setting, the proposed method can operate a dynamic controller for an infinite time horizon without controller state decryption or input re-encryption. We show that the control performance achievable by the proposed protocol can be made arbitrarily close to that attained by the unencrypted controller. Furthermore, system-theoretic and cryptographic modifications of the protocol are presented to improve the communication complexity. The feasibility of the protocol is demonstrated through numerical examples of PID and observer-based controls.

eess.SY↗

Strong Duality and Dual Ascent Approach to Continuous-Time Chance-Constrained Stochastic Optimal Control

The paper addresses a continuous-time continuous-space chance-constrained stochastic optimal control (SOC) problem where the probability of failure to satisfy given state constraints is explicitly bounded. We leverage the notion of exit time from continuous-time stochastic calculus to formulate a chance-constrained SOC problem. Without any conservative approximation, the chance constraint is transformed into an expectation of an indicator function which can be incorporated into the cost function by considering a dual formulation. We then express the dual function in terms of the solution to a Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman partial differential equation parameterized by the dual variable. Under a certain assumption on the system dynamics and cost function, it is shown that a strong duality holds between the primal chance-constrained problem and its dual. The Path integral approach is utilized to numerically solve the dual problem via gradient ascent using open-loop samples of system trajectories. We present simulation studies on chance-constrained motion planning for spatial navigation of mobile robots and the solution of the path integral approach is compared with that of the finite difference method.

eess.SY↗

Policy Gradient Method for LQG Control via Input-Output-History Representation: Convergence to $O(ε)$-Stationary Points

We study the policy gradient method (PGM) for the linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) dynamic output-feedback control problem using an input-output-history (IOH) representation of the closed-loop system. First, we show that any dynamic output-feedback controller is equivalent to a static partial-state feedback gain for a new system representation characterized by a finite-length IOH. Leveraging this equivalence, we reformulate the search for an optimal dynamic output feedback controller as an optimization problem over the corresponding partial-state feedback gain. Next, we introduce a relaxed version of the IOH-based LQG problem by incorporating a small process noise with covariance $εI$ into the new system to ensure coerciveness, a key condition for establishing gradient-based convergence guarantees. Consequently, we show that a vanilla PGM for the relaxed problem converges to an $\mathcal{O}(ε)$-stationary point, i.e., $\overline{K}$ satisfying $\|\nabla J(\overline{K})\|_F \leq \mathcal{O}(ε)$, where $J$ denotes the original LQG cost. Numerical experiments empirically indicate convergence to the vicinity of the globally optimal LQG controller.

math.OC↗

Model Predictive Path Integral Control for Roll-to-Roll Manufacturing

Roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing is a continuous processing technology essential for scalable production of thin-film materials and printed electronics, but precise control remains challenging due to subsystem interactions, nonlinearities, and process disturbances. This paper proposes a Model Predictive Path Integral (MPPI) control formulation for R2R systems, leveraging a GPU-based Monte-Carlo sampling approach to efficiently approximate optimal controls online. Crucially, MPPI easily handles non-differentiable cost functions, enabling the incorporation of complex performance criteria relevant to advanced manufacturing processes. A case study is presented that demonstrates that MPPI significantly improves tension regulation performance compared to conventional model predictive control (MPC), highlighting its suitability for real-time control in advanced manufacturing.

eess.SY↗

Relative Entropy Regularized Reinforcement Learning for Efficient Encrypted Policy Synthesis

We propose an efficient encrypted policy synthesis to develop privacy-preserving model-based reinforcement learning. We first demonstrate that the relative-entropy-regularized reinforcement learning framework offers a computationally convenient linear and ``min-free'' structure for value iteration, enabling a direct and efficient integration of fully homomorphic encryption with bootstrapping into policy synthesis. Convergence and error bounds are analyzed as encrypted policy synthesis propagates errors under the presence of encryption-induced errors including quantization and bootstrapping. Theoretical analysis is validated by numerical simulations. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of the RERL framework in integrating FHE for encrypted policy synthesis.

cs.LG↗

Path Integral Methods for Synthesizing and Preventing Stealthy Attacks in Nonlinear Cyber-Physical Systems

This paper studies the synthesis and mitigation of stealthy attacks in nonlinear cyber-physical systems (CPS). To quantify stealthiness, we employ the Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence, a measure rooted in hypothesis testing and detection theory, which captures the trade-off between an attacker's desire to remain stealthy and her goal of degrading system performance. First, we synthesize the worst-case stealthy attack in nonlinear CPS using the path integral approach. Second, we consider how a controller can mitigate the impact of such stealthy attacks by formulating a minimax KL control problem, yielding a zero-sum game between the attacker and the controller. Again, we leverage a path integral-based solution that computes saddle-point policies for both players through Monte Carlo simulations. We validate our approach using unicycle navigation and cruise control problems, demonstrating how an attacker can covertly drive the system into unsafe regions, and how the controller can adapt her policy to combat the worst-case attacks.

eess.SY↗

Efficient Implementation of Reinforcement Learning over Homomorphic Encryption

We investigate encrypted control policy synthesis over the cloud. While encrypted control implementations have been studied previously, we focus on the less explored paradigm of privacy-preserving control synthesis, which can involve heavier computations ideal for cloud outsourcing. We classify control policy synthesis into model-based, simulator-driven, and data-driven approaches and examine their implementation over fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) for privacy enhancements. A key challenge arises from comparison operations (min or max) in standard reinforcement learning algorithms, which are difficult to execute over encrypted data. This observation motivates our focus on Relative-Entropy-regularized reinforcement learning (RL) problems, which simplifies encrypted evaluation of synthesis algorithms due to their comparison-free structures. We demonstrate how linearly solvable value iteration, path integral control, and Z-learning can be readily implemented over FHE. We conduct a case study of our approach through numerical simulations of encrypted Z-learning in a grid world environment using the CKKS encryption scheme, showing convergence with acceptable approximation error. Our work suggests the potential for secure and efficient cloud-based reinforcement learning.

cs.LG↗

Task Hierarchical Control via Null-Space Projection and Path Integral Approach

This paper addresses the problem of hierarchical task control, where a robotic system must perform multiple subtasks with varying levels of priority. A commonly used approach for hierarchical control is the null-space projection technique, which ensures that higher-priority tasks are executed without interference from lower-priority ones. While effective, the state-of-the-art implementations of this method rely on low-level controllers, such as PID controllers, which can be prone to suboptimal solutions in complex tasks. This paper presents a novel framework for hierarchical task control, integrating the null-space projection technique with the path integral control method. Our approach leverages Monte Carlo simulations for real-time computation of optimal control inputs, allowing for the seamless integration of simpler PID-like controllers with a more sophisticated optimal control technique. Through simulation studies, we demonstrate the effectiveness of this combined approach, showing how it overcomes the limitations of traditional

cs.RO↗

Faithful and Privacy-Preserving Implementation of Average Consensus

We propose a protocol based on mechanism design theory and encrypted control to solve average consensus problems among rational and strategic agents while preserving their privacy. The proposed protocol provides a mechanism that incentivizes the agents to faithfully implement the intended behavior specified in the protocol. Furthermore, the protocol runs over encrypted data using homomorphic encryption and secret sharing to protect the privacy of agents. We also analyze the security of the proposed protocol using a simulation paradigm in secure multi-party computation. The proposed protocol demonstrates that mechanism design and encrypted control can complement each other to achieve security under rational adversaries.

eess.SY↗

Encrypted Computation of Collision Probability for Secure Satellite Conjunction Analysis

The computation of collision probability ($\mathcal{P}_c$) is crucial for space environmentalism and sustainability by providing decision-making knowledge that can prevent collisions between anthropogenic space objects. However, the accuracy and precision of $\mathcal{P}_c$ computations is often compromised by limitations in computational resources and data availability. While significant improvements have been made in the computational aspects, the rising concerns regarding the privacy of collaborative data sharing can be a major limiting factor in the future conjunction analysis and risk assessment, especially as the space environment grows increasingly privatized, competitive, and fraught with conflicting strategic interests. This paper argues that the importance of privacy measures in space situational awareness (SSA) is underappreciated, and regulatory and compliance measures currently in place are not sufficient by themselves, presenting a significant gap. To address this gap, we introduce a novel encrypted architecture that leverages advanced cryptographic techniques, including homomorphic encryption (HE) and multi-party computation (MPC), to safeguard the privacy of entities computing space sustainability metrics, inter alia, $\mathcal{P}_c$. Our proposed protocol, Encrypted $\mathcal{P}_c$, integrates the Monte Carlo estimation algorithm with cryptographic solutions, enabling secure collision probability computation without exposing sensitive or proprietary information. This research advances secure conjunction analysis by developing a secure MPC protocol for $\mathcal{P}_c$ computation and highlights the need for innovative protocols to ensure a more secure and cooperative SSA landscape.

cs.CR↗

Covert Vehicle Misguidance and Its Detection: A Hypothesis Testing Game over Continuous-Time Dynamics

We formulate a stochastic zero-sum game over continuous-time dynamics to analyze the competition between the attacker, who tries to covertly misguide the vehicle to an unsafe region, versus the detector, who tries to detect the attack signal based on the observed trajectory of the vehicle. Based on Girsanov's theorem and the generalized Neyman-Pearson lemma, we show that a constant bias injection attack as the attacker's strategy and a likelihood ratio test as the detector's strategy constitute the unique saddle point of the game. We also derive the first-order and the second-order exponents of the type II error as a function of the data length.

math.OC↗

Safety Control of Uncertain MIMO Systems Using Dynamic Output Feedback Barrier Pairs

Safety control of dynamical systems using barrier functions relies on knowing the full state information. This paper introduces a novel approach for safety control in uncertain MIMO systems with partial state information. The proposed method combines the synthesis of a vector norm barrier function and a dynamic output feedback safety controller to ensure robust safety enforcement. The safety controller guarantees the invariance of the barrier function under uncertain dynamics and disturbances. To address the challenges associated with safety verification using partial state information, a barrier function estimator is developed. This estimator employs an identifier-based state estimator to obtain a state estimate that is affine in the uncertain model parameters of the system. By incorporating a priori knowledge of the limits of the uncertain model parameters and disturbances, the state estimate provides a robust upper bound for the barrier function. Comparative analysis with existing control barrier function based methods shows the advantage of the proposed approach in enforcing safety constraints under tight input constraints and the utilization of estimated state information.

eess.SY↗

Fast End-to-End Generation of Belief Space Paths for Minimum Sensing Navigation

We revisit the problem of motion planning in the Gaussian belief space. Motivated by the fact that most existing sampling-based planners suffer from high computational costs due to the high-dimensional nature of the problem, we propose an approach that leverages a deep learning model to predict optimal path candidates directly from the problem description. Our proposed approach consists of three steps. First, we prepare a training dataset comprising a large number of input-output pairs: the input image encodes the problem to be solved (e.g., start states, goal states, and obstacle locations), whereas the output image encodes the solution (i.e., the ground truth of the shortest path). Any existing planner can be used to generate this training dataset. Next, we leverage the U-Net architecture to learn the dependencies between the input and output data. Finally, a trained U-Net model is applied to a new problem encoded as an input image. From the U-Net's output image, which is interpreted as a distribution of paths,an optimal path candidate is reconstructed. The proposed method significantly reduces computation time compared to the sampling-based baseline algorithm.

cs.RO↗

Commissioning of a compact multibend achromat lattice: A new 3 GeV synchrotron radiation facility

NanoTerasu, a new 3 GeV synchrotron light source in Japan, began user operation in April 2024. It provides high-brilliance soft to tender X-rays and covers a wide spectral range from ultraviolet to tender X-rays. Its compact storage ring with a circumference of 349 m is based on a four-bend achromat lattice to provide two straight sections in each cell for insertion devices with a natural horizontal emittance of 1.14 nm rad, which is small enough for soft X-rays users. The NanoTerasu accelerator incorporates several innovative technologies, including a full-energy injector C-band linear accelerator with a length of 110 m, an in-vacuum off-axis injection system, a four-bend achromat with B-Q combined bending magnets, and a TM020 mode accelerating cavity with built-in higher-order-mode dampers in the storage ring. This paper presents the accelerator machine commissioning over a half-year period and our model-consistent ring optics correction. The first user operation with a stored beam current of 160 mA is also reported. We summarize the storage ring parameters obtained from the commissioning. This is helpful for estimating the effective optical properties of synchrotron radiation at NanoTerasu.

physics.acc-ph↗

Physics-Informed Representation and Learning: Control and Risk Quantification

Optimal and safety-critical control are fundamental problems for stochastic systems, and are widely considered in real-world scenarios such as robotic manipulation and autonomous driving. In this paper, we consider the problem of efficiently finding optimal and safe control for high-dimensional systems. Specifically, we propose to use dimensionality reduction techniques from a comparison theorem for stochastic differential equations together with a generalizable physics-informed neural network to estimate the optimal value function and the safety probability of the system. The proposed framework results in substantial sample efficiency improvement compared to existing methods. We further develop an autoencoder-like neural network to automatically identify the low-dimensional features of the system to enhance the ease of design for system integration. We also provide experiments and quantitative analysis to validate the efficacy of the proposed method. Source code is available at https://github.com/jacobwang925/path-integral-PINN.

eess.SY↗

Accelerating the convergence of free electron laser simulations by retrieving a spatially-coherent component of microbunching

A simple method to reduce the numerical cost in free electron laser (FEL) simulations is presented, which is based on retrieving a spatially-coherent component of microbunching to suppress artifact effects that can potentially overestimate the FEL gain; this significantly reduces the number of macroparticles to reach the numerical convergence and enables the direct computation of amplified radiation without solving the wave equation. Examples of FEL simulations performed to demonstrate the proposed method show that the computation time to get a reliable result is reduced by 1-2 orders of magnitude depending on the simulation condition.

physics.acc-ph↗