Metric Learning to Accelerate Convergence of Operator Splitting Methods for Differentiable Parametric Programming

Recent work has shown a variety of ways in which machine learning can be used to accelerate the solution of constrained optimization problems. Increasing demand for real-time decision-making capabilities in applications such as artificial intelligence and optimal control has led to a variety of approaches, based on distinct strategies. This work proposes a novel approach to learning optimization, in which the underlying metric space of a proximal operator splitting algorithm is learned so as to maximize its convergence rate. While prior works in optimization theory have derived optimal metrics for limited classes of problems, the results do not extend to many practical problem forms including general Quadratic Programming (QP). This paper shows how differentiable optimization can enable the end-to-end learning of proximal metrics, enhancing the convergence of proximal algorithms for QP problems beyond what is possible based on known theory. Additionally, the results illustrate a strong connection between the learned proximal metrics and active constraints at the optima, leading to an interpretation in which the learning of proximal metrics can be viewed as a form of active set learning.