Uncertainty Quantification for Unobserved Variables in Dynamical Systems and Optimal Experimental Design

Abstract

We consider a problem of optimal experimental design in dynamical systems, where we aim to find measurements that reduce uncertainty in model predictions. For a dynamical system, the set of parameters that fit the data well can be very broad or very narrow, but the size of this set does not necessarily translate into uncertainty over predictions. Thus, this needs to be determined another way. We solve an optimization problem that searches for a pair of models that each provide a good fit for the observed data, yet have maximally different predictions. This is called "prediction deviation." Prediction deviation can determine the possible impact that an additional measurement would take to reduce uncertainty. Thus, we can use prediction deviation to estimate which experiment to perform (which measurement to take) in order to maximally reduce uncertainty. We use this technique study optimal experimental design in a model of interferon-alpha inhibition of HIV infection. We will also prove a theoretical result showing that prediction deviation provides bounds on the trajectories of the underlying true model. The collaborators on this project will be Ben Letham, Portia A. Letham, and Edward P. Browne.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Jan 12, 2017
Source ID
W911NF1510155

Entities

People

  • Cynthia Rudin

Organizations

  • Army Contracting Command
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • United States Army

Tags

Readers

  • Adaptive Control and Estimation with Uncertainty in Dynamic Systems.
  • Immunology