A Robust, Efficient Predictive Safety Filter

Abstract: In this paper, we propose a novel predictive safety filter that is robust to bounded perturbations and is implemented in an even-triggered fashion to reduce online computation. The proposed safety filter extends upon existing work to reject disturbances for discrete-time, time-varying nonlinear systems with time-varying constraints. The safety filter is based on novel concepts of robust, discrete-time barrier functions and can be used to filter any control law. Here, we use the safety filter in conjunction with Differentiable Predictive Control (DPC) as a promising offline learning-based policy optimization method. The approach is demonstrated on a two-tank system, building, and single-integrator example.