Safe Learning-Based Optimization of Model Predictive Control: Application to Battery Fast-Charging

Model predictive control (MPC) is a powerful tool for controlling complex nonlinear systems under constraints, but often struggles with model uncertainties and the design of suitable cost functions. To address these challenges, we discuss an approach that integrates MPC with safe Bayesian optimization to optimize long-term closed-loop performance despite significant model-plant mismatches. By parameterizing the MPC stage cost function using a radial basis function network, we employ Bayesian optimization as a multi-episode learning strategy to tune the controller without relying on precise system models. This method mitigates conservativeness introduced by overly cautious soft constraints in the MPC cost function and provides probabilistic safety guarantees during learning, ensuring that safety-critical constraints are met with high probability. As a practical application, we apply our approach to fast charging of lithium-ion batteries, a challenging task due to the complicated battery dynamics and strict safety requirements, subject to the requirement to be implementable in real time. Simulation results demonstrate that, in the context of model-plant mismatch, our method reduces charging times compared to traditional MPC methods while maintaining safety. This work extends previous research by emphasizing closed-loop constraint satisfaction and offers a promising solution for enhancing performance in systems where model uncertainties and safety are critical concerns.