feat(dataset): add tool to convert images to video datasets (#2560)

* add video encoding tool

* style

* make it work

* more fixes

docs/source/using_dataset_tools.mdx

@@ -11,13 +11,14 @@ LeRobot provides several utilities for manipulating datasets:
 3. **Merge Datasets** - Combine multiple datasets into one. The datasets must have identical features, and episodes are concatenated in the order specified in `repo_ids`
 4. **Add Features** - Add new features to a dataset
 5. **Remove Features** - Remove features from a dataset
+6. **Convert to Video** - Convert image-based datasets to video format for efficient storage
 
 The core implementation is in `lerobot.datasets.dataset_tools`.
 An example script detailing how to use the tools API is available in `examples/dataset/use_dataset_tools.py`.
 
 ## Command-Line Tool: lerobot-edit-dataset
 
-`lerobot-edit-dataset` is a command-line script for editing datasets. It can be used to delete episodes, split datasets, merge datasets, add features, and remove features.
+`lerobot-edit-dataset` is a command-line script for editing datasets. It can be used to delete episodes, split datasets, merge datasets, add features, remove features, and convert image datasets to video format.
 
 Run `lerobot-edit-dataset --help` for more information on the configuration of each operation.
 
@@ -86,9 +87,71 @@ lerobot-edit-dataset \
     --operation.feature_names "['observation.images.top']"
 ```
 
+#### Convert to Video
+
+Convert an image-based dataset to video format, creating a new LeRobotDataset where images are stored as videos. This is useful for reducing storage requirements and improving data loading performance. The new dataset will have the exact same structure as the original, but with images encoded as MP4 videos in the proper LeRobot format.
+
+```bash
+# Local-only: Save to a custom output directory (no hub push)
+lerobot-edit-dataset \
+    --repo_id lerobot/pusht_image \
+    --operation.type convert_to_video \
+    --operation.output_dir /path/to/output/pusht_video
+
+# Save with new repo_id (local storage)
+lerobot-edit-dataset \
+    --repo_id lerobot/pusht_image \
+    --new_repo_id lerobot/pusht_video \
+    --operation.type convert_to_video
+
+# Convert and push to Hugging Face Hub
+lerobot-edit-dataset \
+    --repo_id lerobot/pusht_image \
+    --new_repo_id lerobot/pusht_video \
+    --operation.type convert_to_video \
+    --push_to_hub true
+
+# Convert with custom video codec and quality settings
+lerobot-edit-dataset \
+    --repo_id lerobot/pusht_image \
+    --operation.type convert_to_video \
+    --operation.output_dir outputs/pusht_video \
+    --operation.vcodec libsvtav1 \
+    --operation.pix_fmt yuv420p \
+    --operation.g 2 \
+    --operation.crf 30
+
+# Convert only specific episodes
+lerobot-edit-dataset \
+    --repo_id lerobot/pusht_image \
+    --operation.type convert_to_video \
+    --operation.output_dir outputs/pusht_video \
+    --operation.episode_indices "[0, 1, 2, 5, 10]"
+
+# Convert with multiple workers for parallel processing
+lerobot-edit-dataset \
+    --repo_id lerobot/pusht_image \
+    --operation.type convert_to_video \
+    --operation.output_dir outputs/pusht_video \
+    --operation.num_workers 8
+```
+
+**Parameters:**
+
+- `output_dir`: Custom output directory (optional - by default uses `new_repo_id` or `{repo_id}_video`)
+- `vcodec`: Video codec to use - options: `h264`, `hevc`, `libsvtav1` (default: `libsvtav1`)
+- `pix_fmt`: Pixel format - options: `yuv420p`, `yuv444p` (default: `yuv420p`)
+- `g`: Group of pictures (GOP) size - lower values give better quality but larger files (default: 2)
+- `crf`: Constant rate factor - lower values give better quality but larger files, 0 is lossless (default: 30)
+- `fast_decode`: Fast decode tuning option (default: 0)
+- `episode_indices`: List of specific episodes to convert (default: all episodes)
+- `num_workers`: Number of parallel workers for processing (default: 4)
+
+**Note:** The resulting dataset will be a proper LeRobotDataset with all cameras encoded as videos in the `videos/` directory, with parquet files containing only metadata (no raw image data). All episodes, stats, and tasks are preserved.
+
 ### Push to Hub
 
-Add the `--push_to_hub` flag to any command to automatically upload the resulting dataset to the Hugging Face Hub:
+Add the `--push_to_hub true` flag to any command to automatically upload the resulting dataset to the Hugging Face Hub:
 
 ```bash
 lerobot-edit-dataset \
@@ -96,7 +159,7 @@ lerobot-edit-dataset \
     --new_repo_id lerobot/pusht_after_deletion \
     --operation.type delete_episodes \
     --operation.episode_indices "[0, 2, 5]" \
-    --push_to_hub
+    --push_to_hub true
 ```
 
 There is also a tool for adding features to a dataset that is not yet covered in `lerobot-edit-dataset`.