Distributionally Robust PAC-Bayesian Control
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Abstract (arXiv)
We present a distributionally robust PAC-Bayesian framework for certifying the performance of learning-based finite-horizon controllers. While existing PAC-Bayes control literature typically assumes bounded losses and matching training and deployment distributions, we explicitly address unbounded losses and environmental distribution shifts (the sim-to-real gap). We achieve this by drawing on two modern lines of research, namely the PAC-Bayes generalization theory and distributionally robust optimization via the type-1 Wasserstein distance. By leveraging the System Level Synthesis (SLS) reparametrization, we derive a sub-Gaussian loss proxy and a bound on the performance loss due to distribution shift. Both are tied directly to the operator norm of the closed-loop map. For linear time-invariant systems, this yields a computationally tractable optimization-based framework together with high-probability safety certificates for deployment in real-world environments that differ from those used in training.
Key facts. Cited by 1 paper in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026). Builds on 13 of its 23 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 12 Apr 2026.
Builds on
13 of 23 references.
References · 13
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- 2015Data-driven Distributionally Robust Optimization Using the Wasserstein Metric: Performance Guarantees and Tractable Reformulationscited by 291
- 2021User-friendly introduction to PAC-Bayes boundscited by 239
- 2019Wasserstein Distributionally Robust Optimization: Theory and Applications in Machine Learningcited by 170
- 2019Distributionally Robust Optimization: A Reviewcited by 76
- 2015JuMP: A Modeling Language for Mathematical Optimizationcited by 49
- 2018Don't Unroll Adjoint: Differentiating SSA-Form Programscited by 45
- 2016A System Level Approach to Controller Synthesiscited by 9
- 2024PAC-Bayes-Chernoff bounds for unbounded lossescited by 9
- 2024A PAC-Bayesian Framework for Optimal Control with Stability Guaranteescited by 7
- 2017Risk-averse model predictive controlcited by 4
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Citing papers per year: 2026: 1.
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- 2026PAC-Bayesian Certificates for Quadratic Closed-Loop Control26 Jun 2026