Core Insights - The article presents VLA², a framework designed to enhance the capabilities of vision-language-action models, particularly in handling unseen concepts in robotic tasks [1][3][12] Method Overview - VLA² integrates three core modules: initial information processing, cognition and memory, and task execution [3][5] - The framework utilizes GLM-4V for task decomposition, MM-GroundingDINO for object detection, and incorporates web image retrieval for visual memory enhancement [4][7] Experimental Validation - VLA² was compared with state-of-the-art (SOTA) models on the LIBERO Benchmark, showing competitive results, particularly excelling in scenarios requiring strong generalization [6][9] - In hard scenarios, VLA² achieved a 44.2% improvement in success rate over simply fine-tuning OpenVLA [9][10] Key Mechanisms - The framework's performance is significantly influenced by three mechanisms: visual mask injection, semantic replacement, and web retrieval [7][11] - Ablation studies confirmed that each mechanism contributes notably to the model's performance, especially in challenging tasks [11] Conclusion and Future Directions - VLA² successfully expands the cognitive and operational capabilities of VLA models for unknown objects, providing a viable solution for robotic tasks in open-world settings [12] - Future work will focus on exploring its generalization capabilities in real-world applications and expanding support for more tools and tasks [12]

Core Insights - The article presents the RLinf-VLA framework, a unified and efficient framework for training Visual-Language-Action (VLA) models using Reinforcement Learning (RL), addressing the limitations of existing models that rely on supervised fine-tuning [2][53] - The framework significantly enhances training efficiency and generalization capabilities, achieving high success rates in various simulation tasks and demonstrating superior performance in real-world applications compared to traditional supervised methods [5][53] Framework Design - The RLinf-VLA framework integrates multiple simulators, algorithms, and VLA architectures, optimizing resource allocation through flexible execution modes and system-level enhancements [4][53] - It supports three GPU allocation strategies: colocated, disaggregated, and hybrid, allowing users to easily switch modes via configuration files, thus reducing system customization costs [10][11] Model Compatibility - The framework supports LoRA for efficient parameter tuning, reducing memory consumption and accelerating training while maintaining performance [12] - It is compatible with OpenVLA and its extension OpenVLA-OFT, which have shown strong performance in various robotic operation benchmarks [12][22] Multi-Simulator Support - The framework emphasizes the importance of simulators in RL, utilizing ManiSkill and LIBERO as primary simulators to achieve diverse task capabilities [13] - It provides a unified interface for different simulators, facilitating the implementation of various tasks and supporting multiple RL algorithms, initially focusing on PPO and GRPO [13][14] Algorithm Design - The framework incorporates advanced techniques for advantage function and log-probability calculations, allowing for flexible integration of block-level and action-level definitions [14][15] - It supports various optimization strategies, including trajectory length normalization and effective action masking, to enhance training stability and performance [19][20] Experimental Results - The RLinf-VLA framework demonstrated significant performance improvements, with success rates increasing by 45% to 70% in various tasks compared to baseline models [22][24] - In LIBERO tasks, the framework achieved an average success rate of 98.11%, showcasing its capability for large-scale multi-task reinforcement learning [28] High Efficiency Performance - The framework's efficiency is evaluated based on throughput, achieving substantial improvements in training speed across different GPU configurations [30][35] - The hybrid allocation mode outperformed traditional methods, demonstrating the benefits of pipeline overlapping in resource utilization [35][37] Real-World Deployment - The RLinf-VLA framework was successfully deployed in real-world environments, showing superior zero-shot generalization capabilities compared to supervised fine-tuning strategies [51][53] - The experiments indicated that RL-trained models could adapt better to real-world tasks, achieving higher success rates in object manipulation tasks [51] Conclusion - The RLinf-VLA framework represents a significant advancement in the field of embodied intelligence, providing a robust foundation for future research and development in VLA training [53]

Core Insights - The article discusses the launch of RLinf, a large-scale reinforcement learning framework aimed at embodied intelligence, highlighting its flexibility and efficiency in system design [2][3]. Group 1: System Design - RLinf-VLA provides a unified and efficient platform for VLA+RL research, achieving a throughput improvement of 2.27 times compared to baseline platforms [2][5]. - It supports multiple simulators (LIBERO and ManiSkill), allowing for integrated training across different environments [5]. - The system allows for easy switching between various VLA models and RL algorithms, reducing the workload for model adaptation [5]. Group 2: Performance Overview - A single unified model achieved a success rate of 98.11% across 130 tasks in LIBERO and 97.66% in 25 pick & place tasks in ManiSkill [6]. - The RLinf-VLA framework demonstrates superior zero-shot generalization capabilities when deployed on real robotic systems compared to strategies trained with SFT [6][45]. Group 3: Algorithm Design - The framework introduces several design optimizations, including lightweight critics and trajectory length normalization, which significantly enhance training efficiency [9][21][25]. - It supports three levels of output granularity (token-level, action-level, chunk-level) for both advantage and log-probability calculations, allowing for flexible training strategies [12][14][22]. Group 4: Experimental Results - In multi-task experiments, the OpenVLA model showed performance improvements of 45% to 70% over baseline models in ManiSkill tasks [31]. - The RLinf-VLA framework demonstrated high efficiency in training, with significant reductions in training time compared to baseline methods [43][44]. Group 5: Real-World Application - The RLinf-VLA framework was successfully deployed on the Franka Panda robotic arm, showcasing its ability to generalize from simulation to real-world tasks [45].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of building a solid foundation in research before diving into complex topics like VLA (Vision-Language-Action) in embodied intelligence [1][6] - VLA is highlighted as a transformative model that allows robots to perform tasks based on language instructions, breaking the limitations of traditional single-task training [4][7] - The article discusses the rapid development of the embodied intelligence sector, with various teams transitioning from research to commercialization, and major tech companies actively investing in this field [6] Summary by Sections VLA Overview - VLA enables robots to autonomously make decisions in diverse environments, significantly enhancing their adaptability and application across industries such as manufacturing and logistics [4][6] - The model has become a research hotspot, fostering collaboration between academia and industry through various projects like pi0, RT-2, and OpenVLA [4][7] Industry Development - The embodied intelligence field is experiencing robust growth, with companies like Unitree, Zhiyuan, and major tech players like Huawei and Tencent making significant strides [6] - There is a growing interest in VLA-related research, with many seeking guidance to quickly enter or transition within this domain [6] Course Offerings - A specialized course on VLA research is introduced, focusing on the theoretical and practical aspects of embodied intelligence, including simulation environment setup and experimental design [10][12] - The course aims to cultivate independent research capabilities, guiding students from idea generation to the completion of a research paper [12][17] Learning Outcomes - Participants will gain comprehensive knowledge of VLA models, practical experience in simulation, and skills in academic writing and research methodology [17] - The course is designed to help students identify research opportunities and navigate the complexities of the embodied intelligence landscape [12][16]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the significance of Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models in the field of embodied intelligence, highlighting their ability to enable robots to autonomously make decisions in diverse environments, thus breaking the limitations of traditional single-task training methods [1][4]. Industry Development - The embodied intelligence sector is experiencing rapid growth, with teams like Unitree, Zhiyuan, Xinghaitu, and Yinhai General transitioning from laboratory research to commercialization, alongside major tech companies such as Huawei, JD, and Tencent collaborating with international firms like Tesla and Figure AI [3]. Research Opportunities - VLA is identified as a current research hotspot with many unresolved issues, making it a promising area for academic papers. The article mentions the establishment of a specialized VLA research guidance course aimed at helping individuals quickly enter or transition within this field [3][4]. Course Content and Structure - The course focuses on how agents interact effectively with the physical world through a perception-cognition-action loop, covering the evolution of VLA technology from early grasp pose detection to recent models like Diffusion Policy and multimodal foundational models [7][8]. - It addresses core challenges in embodied intelligence, such as cross-domain generalization and long-term planning, and explores how to integrate large language models with robotic control systems [8]. Learning Outcomes - Upon completion, participants are expected to master the theoretical foundations and technical evolution of VLA models, gain proficiency in simulation environments, and develop independent research capabilities [14]. - The course aims to guide students from idea generation to the completion of a high-quality academic paper, ensuring they can identify research opportunities and design effective experiments [10][14].

Core Insights - The Vision-Language-Action (VLA) model represents a new paradigm in embodied intelligence, enabling robots to generate executable actions from language instructions and visual signals, thus enhancing their adaptability to complex environments [1][3]. - VLA breaks the traditional single-task limitations, allowing robots to make autonomous decisions in diverse scenarios, which is applicable in manufacturing, logistics, and home services [3]. - The VLA model has become a research hotspot, driving collaboration between academia and industry, with various cutting-edge projects like pi0, RT-2, OpenVLA, QUAR-VLA, and HumanVLA emerging [3][5]. Industry Development - The embodied intelligence sector is experiencing robust growth, with teams like Unitree, Zhiyuan, Xinghaitu, Galaxy General, and Zhujidongli transitioning from laboratories to commercialization [5]. - Major tech companies such as Huawei, JD.com, and Tencent are actively investing in this field, alongside international firms like Tesla and Figure AI [5]. Educational Initiatives - A specialized VLA research guidance course has been launched to assist students in quickly entering or transitioning into the VLA research area, addressing the complexity of the related systems and frameworks [5]. - The course focuses on the perception-cognition-action loop, providing a comprehensive understanding of VLA's theoretical foundations and practical applications [7][8]. Course Structure and Outcomes - The curriculum covers the entire research process, from theoretical foundations to experimental design and paper writing, ensuring students develop independent research capabilities [15]. - Students will learn to identify research opportunities, analyze unresolved challenges in the field, and receive personalized guidance tailored to their backgrounds and interests [15]. - The course aims to help students produce a complete research idea and a preliminary experimental validation, culminating in a draft of a high-quality academic paper [15][18].

Group 1 - VLA (Vision-Language-Action) model represents a new paradigm in embodied intelligence, enabling robots to generate executable actions from language instructions and visual signals, thus enhancing their understanding and adaptability in complex environments [1][3] - The VLA model breaks the limitations of traditional single-task training, allowing robots to make autonomous decisions in diverse scenarios, which is applicable in manufacturing, logistics, and home services [3][5] - The VLA model has become a research hotspot, driving the development of several cutting-edge projects such as pi0, RT-2, OpenVLA, QUAR-VLA, and HumanVLA, fostering collaboration between academia and industry [3][5] Group 2 - The embodied intelligence sector is experiencing rapid growth, with teams like Unitree, Zhiyuan, Xinghaitu, and Yinhai General transitioning from laboratories to commercialization, while tech giants like Huawei, JD.com, and Tencent are actively investing in this field [5] - The course on VLA research aims to equip students with comprehensive skills in academic research, including theoretical foundations, experimental design, and paper writing, focusing on independent research capabilities [13][15] - The curriculum emphasizes identifying research opportunities and innovative points, guiding students to develop their research ideas and complete preliminary experiments [14][15] Group 3 - The course covers the technical evolution of the VLA paradigm, from early grasp pose detection to recent advancements like Diffusion Policy and multimodal foundational models, focusing on end-to-end mapping from visual input and language instructions to robotic actions [8][9] - Core challenges in embodied intelligence, such as cross-domain generalization and long-term planning, are analyzed, along with strategies to combine large language model reasoning with robotic control systems [9] - The course aims to help students master the latest research methods and technical frameworks in embodied intelligence, addressing limitations and advancing towards true general robotic intelligence [9][15]

Core Insights - The article discusses the emergence of Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models based on large Vision-Language Models (VLMs) as a transformative paradigm in robotic manipulation, addressing the limitations of traditional methods in unstructured environments [1][4][5] - It highlights the need for a structured classification framework to mitigate research fragmentation in the rapidly evolving VLA field [2] Group 1: New Paradigm in Robotic Manipulation - Robotic manipulation is a core challenge at the intersection of robotics and embodied AI, requiring deep understanding of visual and semantic cues in complex environments [4] - Traditional methods rely on predefined control strategies, which struggle in unstructured real-world scenarios, revealing limitations in scalability and generalization [4][5] - The advent of large VLMs has provided a revolutionary approach, enabling robots to interpret high-level human instructions and generalize to unseen objects and scenes [5][10] Group 2: VLA Model Definition and Classification - VLA models are defined as systems that utilize a large VLM to understand visual observations and natural language instructions, followed by a reasoning process that generates robotic actions [6][7] - VLA models are categorized into two main types: Monolithic Models and Hierarchical Models, each with distinct architectures and functionalities [7][8] Group 3: Monolithic Models - Monolithic VLA models can be implemented in single-system or dual-system architectures, integrating perception and action generation into a unified framework [14][15] - Single-system models process all modalities together, while dual-system models separate reflective reasoning from reactive behavior, enhancing efficiency [15][16] Group 4: Hierarchical Models - Hierarchical models consist of a planner and a policy, allowing for independent operation and modular design, which enhances flexibility in task execution [43] - These models can be further divided into Planner-Only and Planner+Policy categories, with the former focusing solely on planning and the latter integrating action execution [43][44] Group 5: Advancements in VLA Models - Recent advancements in VLA models include enhancements in perception modalities, such as 3D and 4D perception, as well as the integration of tactile and auditory information [22][23][24] - Efforts to improve reasoning capabilities and generalization abilities are crucial for enabling VLA models to perform complex tasks in diverse environments [25][26] Group 6: Performance Optimization - Performance optimization in VLA models focuses on enhancing inference efficiency through architectural adjustments, parameter optimization, and inference acceleration techniques [28][29][30] - Dual-system models have emerged to balance deep reasoning with real-time action generation, facilitating smoother deployment in real-world scenarios [35] Group 7: Future Directions - Future research directions include the integration of memory mechanisms, 4D perception, efficient adaptation, and multi-agent collaboration to further enhance VLA model capabilities [1][6]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the evolution of autonomous driving technology, particularly focusing on the transition from end-to-end systems to Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models, highlighting the differing approaches and perspectives within the industry regarding these technologies [6][32][34]. Group 1: VLA and Its Implications - VLA, or Vision-Language-Action Model, aims to integrate visual perception and natural language processing to enhance decision-making in autonomous driving systems [9][10]. - The VLA model attempts to map human driving instincts into interpretable language commands, which are then converted into machine actions, potentially offering both strong integration and improved explainability [10][19]. - Companies like Wayve are leading the exploration of VLA, with their LINGO series demonstrating the ability to combine natural language with driving actions, allowing for real-time interaction and explanations of driving decisions [12][18]. Group 2: Industry Perspectives and Divergence - The current landscape of autonomous driving is characterized by a divergence in approaches, with some teams embracing VLA while others remain skeptical, preferring to focus on traditional Vision-Action (VA) models [5][6][19]. - Major players like Huawei and Horizon have expressed reservations about VLA, opting instead to refine existing VA models, which they believe can still achieve effective results without the complexities introduced by language processing [5][21][25]. - The skepticism surrounding VLA stems from concerns about the ambiguity and imprecision of natural language in driving contexts, which can lead to challenges in real-time decision-making [19][21][23]. Group 3: Technical Challenges and Considerations - VLA models face significant technical challenges, including high computational demands and potential latency issues, which are critical in scenarios requiring immediate responses [21][22]. - The integration of language processing into driving systems may introduce noise and ambiguity, complicating the training and operational phases of VLA models [19][23]. - Companies are exploring various strategies to mitigate these challenges, such as enhancing computational power or refining data collection methods to ensure that language inputs align effectively with driving actions [22][34]. Group 4: Future Directions and Industry Outlook - The article suggests that the future of autonomous driving may not solely rely on new technologies like VLA but also on improving existing systems and methodologies to ensure stability and reliability [34]. - As the industry evolves, companies will need to determine whether to pursue innovative paths with VLA or to solidify their existing frameworks, each offering unique opportunities and challenges [34].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the launch of RLinf, a large-scale reinforcement learning framework aimed at embodied intelligence, highlighting its innovative design and capabilities in enhancing AI's transition from perception to action [2][5]. Group 1: Framework Overview - RLinf is a flexible and scalable framework designed for embodied intelligence, integrating various components to optimize performance [5]. - The framework's name "inf" signifies both "infrastructure" and "infinite" scaling, emphasizing its adaptable system design [7]. - RLinf features a hybrid execution model that achieves over 120% system speedup compared to traditional frameworks, with VLA model performance improvements of 40%-60% [7][12]. Group 2: Execution Modes - RLinf supports three execution modes: Collocated, Disaggregated, and Hybrid, allowing users to configure components based on their needs [17][15]. - The hybrid mode combines the advantages of both shared and separated execution, minimizing system idle time and enhancing efficiency [12][15]. Group 3: Communication and Scheduling - The framework includes an adaptive communication library designed for reinforcement learning, optimizing data exchange between components [19][22]. - RLinf features an automated scheduling module that minimizes resource idleness and dynamically adjusts to user training flows, achieving rapid scaling capabilities [23][24]. Group 4: Performance Metrics - RLinf has demonstrated significant performance improvements in embodied intelligence tasks, achieving success rates of 80%-90% in specific scenarios, compared to 30%-50% in previous models [24][26]. - The framework has also achieved state-of-the-art (SOTA) performance in mathematical reasoning tasks across multiple datasets, showcasing its versatility [29][30]. Group 5: Documentation and Community Engagement - Comprehensive documentation and API support are provided to enhance user experience and facilitate understanding of the framework [32][34]. - The RLinf team encourages collaboration and invites users to explore the framework, highlighting ongoing recruitment for various research and engineering positions [33][34].