mlsanityData to 14 Oct 2026

On the Convergence of Jacobian-Free Backpropagation for Optimal Control Problems with Implicit Hamiltonians

arXiv 2602.00921 ↗First posted 31 Jan 2026math.OC cs.LG cs.NAcited by 1

Not on the map. Why?

Abstract (arXiv)

Optimal feedback control with implicit Hamiltonians poses a fundamental challenge for learning-based value function methods due to the absence of closed-form optimal control laws. Recent work~citegelphman2025end introduced an implicit deep learning approach using Jacobian-Free Backpropagation (JFB) to address this setting, but only established sample-wise descent guarantees. In this paper, we establish convergence guarantees for JFB in the stochastic minibatch setting, showing that the resulting updates converge to stationary points of the expected optimal control objective. We further demonstrate scalability on substantially higher-dimensional problems, including multi-agent optimal consumption and swarm-based quadrotor and bicycle control. Together, our results provide both theoretical justification and empirical evidence for using JFB in high-dimensional optimal control with implicit Hamiltonians.

Key facts. Cited by 1 paper in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026). Builds on 41 of its 54 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 31 Jan 2026.

Builds on

41 of 54 references.

References · 41

  1. 2015Deep Residual Learning for Image Recognitioncited by 52,096
  2. 2019PyTorch: An Imperative Style, High-Performance Deep Learning Librarycited by 20,305
  3. 2016Optimization Methods for Large-Scale Machine Learningcited by 1,150
  4. 2019Deep Equilibrium Modelscited by 615
  5. 2019Differentiable Convex Optimization Layerscited by 465
  6. 2018Differentiable MPC for End-to-end Planning and Controlcited by 189
  7. 2020Multiscale Deep Equilibrium Modelscited by 151
  8. 2020OT-Flow: Fast and Accurate Continuous Normalizing Flows via Optimal Transportcited by 143
  9. 2021Deep Equilibrium Architectures for Inverse Problems in Imagingcited by 127
  10. 2019Implicit Deep Learningcited by 124
  11. 2019A Machine Learning Framework for Solving High-Dimensional Mean Field Game and Mean Field Control Problemscited by 97
  12. 2021JFB: Jacobian-Free Backpropagation for Implicit Networkscited by 86
29 more
  1. 2022Deep Equilibrium Optical Flow Estimationcited by 64
  2. 2022Learning in Mean Field Games: A Surveycited by 61
  3. 2018Learning an Approximate Model Predictive Controller with Guaranteescited by 57
  4. 2019Pontryagin Differentiable Programming: An End-to-End Learning and Control Frameworkcited by 52
  5. 2019Adaptive Deep Learning for High-Dimensional Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman Equationscited by 40
  6. 2020Alternating the Population and Control Neural Networks to Solve High-Dimensional Stochastic Mean-Field Gamescited by 35
  7. 2023One-step differentiation of iterative algorithmscited by 28
  8. 2021Safe Pontryagin Differentiable Programmingcited by 26
  9. 2022Online Deep Equilibrium Learning for Regularization by Denoisingcited by 22
  10. 2021A Neural Network Approach for High-Dimensional Optimal Control Applied to Multi-Agent Path Findingcited by 18
  11. 2021Feasibility-based Fixed Point Networkscited by 17
  12. 2022Taming Hyperparameter Tuning in Continuous Normalizing Flows Using the JKO Schemecited by 17
  13. 2020A Neural Network Approach Applied to Multi-Agent Optimal Controlcited by 14
  14. 2022Explainable AI via Learning to Optimizecited by 14
  15. 2022A Neural Network Approach for Stochastic Optimal Controlcited by 13
  16. 2023Differentiating Through Integer Linear Programs with Quadratic Regularization and Davis-Yin Splittingcited by 11
  17. 2023Revisiting Implicit Differentiation for Learning Problems in Optimal Controlcited by 8
  18. 2024Neural Network Approaches for Parameterized Optimal Controlcited by 8
  19. 2024On Logical Extrapolation for Mazes with Recurrent and Implicit Networkscited by 7
  20. 2022Random Features for High-Dimensional Nonlocal Mean-Field Gamescited by 4
  21. 2024A Generalization Bound for a Family of Implicit Networkscited by 4
  22. 2022Offline Supervised Learning V.S. Online Direct Policy Optimization: A Comparative Study and A Unified Training Paradigm for Neural Network-Based Optimal Feedback Controlcited by 3
  23. 2023Relative Arbitrage Opportunities in an Extended Mean Field Systemcited by 3
  24. 2024Kernel Expansions for High-Dimensional Mean-Field Control with Non-local Interactionscited by 3
  25. 2025End-to-End Training of High-Dimensional Optimal Control with Implicit Hamiltonians via Jacobian-Free Backpropagationcited by 3
  26. 2020Optimal Consumption under a Habit-Formation Constraint: the Deterministic Casecited by 2
  27. 2022Pontryagin Optimal Control via Neural Networkscited by 2
  28. 2025A primal-dual price-optimization method for computing equilibrium prices in mean-field games modelscited by 2
  29. 2026Pathwise Learning of Stochastic Dynamical Systems with Partial Observationscited by 1

Built on by

Cited by year (2026 to 14 Oct)

Citing papers per year: 2026: 1.

1 paper.