ResearchResearch paperRobotics & Embodied AI · Reinforcement Learning · Training & Scaling1 source · Oct 8, 2026

Example-driven Parametrisations for Bayesian Shape Optimisation

Bayesian optimisation is the natural tool for shape design when objectives are expensive and non-differentiable, but it needs a compact yet expressive parameterisation of the search space.

Key points

  • Hand-crafting one is a complex endeavour requiring domain expertise, and often yields implicit infeasible regions, artificial bounds, and coupled, unordered coordinates.
  • We instead learn the parameterisation from a collection of existing designs, applying principal component analysis to the deformations between shapes.
  • The result is a linear, interpretable search space in which the number of components explicitly trades expressivity against dimensionality.
  • Across aerofoils, wings, and radio-frequency cavities, spanning 2D geometry to 3D aerodynamics and electromagnetics, we show improved sample efficiency and the ability to explore beyond the confines of hand-crafted baselines.

Sources (1)

  • [1]Example-driven Parametrisations for Bayesian Shape Optimisation
    arXiv (AI, ML, NLP, CV, robotics, multi-agent) · Oct 8, 01:57 PM
    Bayesian optimisation is the natural tool for shape design when objectives are expensive and non-differentiable, but it needs a compact yet expressive parameterisation of the search space.
    Hand-crafting one is a complex endeavour requiring domain expertise, and often yields implicit infeasible regions, artificial bounds, and coupled, unordered coordinates.

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