Constraint-Aware Diffusion Models for Trajectory Optimization
On the map: Diffusion models → Diffusion and flow policies for robotics
Abstract (arXiv)
The diffusion model has shown success in generating high-quality and diverse solutions to trajectory optimization problems. However, diffusion models with neural networks inevitably make prediction errors, which leads to constraint violations such as unmet goals or collisions. This paper presents a novel constraint-aware diffusion model for trajectory optimization. We introduce a novel hybrid loss function for training that minimizes the constraint violation of diffusion samples compared to the groundtruth while recovering the original data distribution. Our model is demonstrated on tabletop manipulation and two-car reach-avoid problems, outperforming traditional diffusion models in minimizing constraint violations while generating samples close to locally optimal solutions.
Key facts. Cited by 11 papers in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Placed in Diffusion and flow policies for robotics, one of 14 directions in Diffusion models. Builds on 22 of its 26 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 3 Jun 2024.
Builds on
22 of 26 references.
Closest ancestors · 4
Same direction, newest first
- 2023Denoising Heat-inspired Diffusion with Insulators for Collision Free Motion Planning19 Oct
- 2023Trajectory Generation, Control, and Safety with Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Models27 Jun
- 2023Diffusion Policy: Visuomotor Policy Learning via Action Diffusion7 Mar
- 2022Is Conditional Generative Modeling all you need for Decision-Making?28 Nov
Other references · 18
- 2014Adam: A Method for Stochastic Optimizationcited by 36,960
- 2020Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Modelscited by 20,851
- 2015U-Net: Convolutional Networks for Biomedical Image Segmentationcited by 19,604
- 2021High-Resolution Image Synthesis with Latent Diffusion Modelscited by 18,694
- 2020Score-Based Generative Modeling through Stochastic Differential Equationscited by 8,964
- 2021Diffusion Models Beat GANs on Image Synthesiscited by 8,185
- 2015Deep Unsupervised Learning using Nonequilibrium Thermodynamicscited by 7,005
- 2022Classifier-Free Diffusion Guidancecited by 5,717
- 2021Improved Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Modelscited by 3,736
- 2022Video Diffusion Modelscited by 2,280
- 2022Planning with Diffusion for Flexible Behavior Synthesiscited by 1,023
- 2022Equivariant Diffusion for Molecule Generation in 3Dcited by 666
6 more
- 2023DIFUSCO: Graph-based Diffusion Solvers for Combinatorial Optimizationcited by 216
- 2022Design-Bench: Benchmarks for Data-Driven Offline Model-Based Optimizationcited by 96
- 2022Diffusion Models Beat GANs on Topology Optimizationcited by 79
- 2023Diffusion Models for Black-Box Optimizationcited by 75
- 2023Compositional Diffusion-Based Continuous Constraint Solverscited by 39
- 2023DiffDock-PP: Rigid Protein-Protein Docking with Diffusion Modelscited by 23
Built on by
Citing papers per year: 2024: 1; 2025: 4; 2026: 6.
11 papers.
- 2024Generative AI Agents in Autonomous Machines: A Safety Perspectivecited by 7
- 2025Global Search for Optimal Low Thrust Spacecraft Trajectories using Diffusion Models and the Indirect Methodcited by 7
- 2025Dynamics-aware Diffusion Models for Planning and Controlcited by 4
- 2025How Well do Diffusion Policies Learn Kinematic Constraint Manifolds?cited by 3
- 2026Toward Generalist Neural Motion Planners for Robotic Manipulators: Challenges and Opportunitiescited by 1
- 2026GLENS: Global Search via Learning from Solver Iterates with Diffusion Modelscited by 1
- 2026Grounding Generative Policies in Physics: Optimization-Guided Diffusion for Robot Controlcited by 1
- 2025Alternators With Noise Modelscited by 0
- 2026Training-Free Imitation Learning with Closed-Form Diffusion Policiescited by 0
- 2026Complexity Bounds and Approaches to Learning Projected Gradient Descent Solver Iteratescited by 0
- 2026When Do Learned Diffusion Proposals Help Constraint Solving? A Controlled Study on Continuous Algebraic Systemscited by 0
- 2026When Do Learned Diffusion Proposals Help Constraint Solving? A Controlled Study on Continuous Algebraic Systems29 Jul 2026
- 2026Complexity Bounds and Approaches to Learning Projected Gradient Descent Solver Iterates24 Jul 2026
- 2026Grounding Generative Policies in Physics: Optimization-Guided Diffusion for Robot Control23 Jun 2026
- 2026Training-Free Imitation Learning with Closed-Form Diffusion Policies31 May 2026
- 2026GLENS: Global Search via Learning from Solver Iterates with Diffusion Models29 May 2026
- 2026Toward Generalist Neural Motion Planners for Robotic Manipulators: Challenges and Opportunities25 Mar 2026
- 2025How Well do Diffusion Policies Learn Kinematic Constraint Manifolds?1 Oct 2025
- 2025Alternators With Noise Models18 May 2025
- 2025Dynamics-aware Diffusion Models for Planning and Control31 Mar 2025
- 2025Global Search for Optimal Low Thrust Spacecraft Trajectories using Diffusion Models and the Indirect Method13 Jan 2025
- 2024Generative AI Agents in Autonomous Machines: A Safety Perspective20 Oct 2024
Similar, not cited
Close in wording, no citation either way
- 2025Aligning Diffusion Model with Problem Constraints for Trajectory Optimization
- 2025Constrained Diffusers for Safe Planning and Control
- 2025Constraint-Aware Diffusion Guidance for Robotics: Real-Time Obstacle Avoidance for Autonomous Racing
- 2024DiffuSolve: Diffusion-based Solver for Non-convex Trajectory Optimization
- 2024Equality Constrained Diffusion for Direct Trajectory Optimization
- 2024CGD: Constraint-Guided Diffusion Policies for UAV Trajectory Planning
- 2026Motion Planning with Model-Based Diffusion via Constraint Optimization and Adaptive Scheduling
- 2024Diffusion-ES: Gradient-free Planning with Diffusion for Autonomous Driving and Zero-Shot Instruction Following