feat(dataset): 2x faster dataloader via parallel decode, uint8 transport, and persistent workers (#3406)

* feat(dataset): 2xfaster dataloader

* fix(dataset): streaming return uint8 decode

* fix(tests): adjust normalization step comparison

* fix(dataset): with threadexecutor + False default

* chore(dataset): make it a config

* fix(test): account for uint8 in training path testing

src/lerobot/configs/default.py

@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ class DatasetConfig:
     revision: str | None = None
     use_imagenet_stats: bool = True
     video_backend: str = field(default_factory=get_safe_default_codec)
+    # When True, video frames are returned as uint8 tensors (0-255) instead of float32 (0.0-1.0).
+    # This reduces memory and speeds up DataLoader IPC. The training pipeline handles the conversion.
+    return_uint8: bool = False
     streaming: bool = False
 
     def __post_init__(self) -> None:

src/lerobot/configs/train.py

@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ class TrainPipelineConfig(HubMixin):
     # Number of workers for the dataloader.
     num_workers: int = 4
     batch_size: int = 8
+    prefetch_factor: int = 4
+    persistent_workers: bool = True
     steps: int = 100_000
     eval_freq: int = 20_000
     log_freq: int = 200

src/lerobot/datasets/dataset_reader.py

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 """Private reader component for LeRobotDataset. Handles random-access reading (HF dataset, delta indices, video decoding)."""
 
 from collections.abc import Callable
+from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import datasets
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ class DatasetReader:
         video_backend: str,
         delta_timestamps: dict[str, list[float]] | None,
         image_transforms: Callable | None,
+        return_uint8: bool = False,
     ):
         """Initialize the reader with metadata, filtering, and transform config.
 
@@ -73,6 +75,7 @@ class DatasetReader:
         self._tolerance_s = tolerance_s
         self._video_backend = video_backend
         self._image_transforms = image_transforms
+        self._return_uint8 = return_uint8
 
         self.hf_dataset: datasets.Dataset | None = None
         self._absolute_to_relative_idx: dict[int, int] | None = None
@@ -233,16 +236,30 @@ class DatasetReader:
         Segmentation Fault.
         """
         ep = self._meta.episodes[ep_idx]
-        item = {}
+
-        for vid_key, query_ts in query_timestamps.items():
+        def _decode_single(vid_key: str, query_ts: list[float]) -> tuple[str, torch.Tensor]:
             from_timestamp = ep[f"videos/{vid_key}/from_timestamp"]
             shifted_query_ts = [from_timestamp + ts for ts in query_ts]
-
             video_path = self.root / self._meta.get_video_file_path(ep_idx, vid_key)
-            frames = decode_video_frames(video_path, shifted_query_ts, self._tolerance_s, self._video_backend)
+            frames = decode_video_frames(
-            item[vid_key] = frames.squeeze(0)
+                video_path,
+                shifted_query_ts,
+                self._tolerance_s,
+                self._video_backend,
+                return_uint8=self._return_uint8,
+            )
+            return vid_key, frames.squeeze(0)
 
-        return item
+        items = list(query_timestamps.items())
+
+        # Single camera: no threading overhead
+        if len(items) <= 1:
+            return {vid_key: _decode_single(vid_key, query_ts)[1] for vid_key, query_ts in items}
+
+        # Multi-camera: decode in parallel (video decoding releases the GIL)
+        with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=len(items)) as pool:
+            futures = [pool.submit(_decode_single, k, ts) for k, ts in items]
+            return dict(f.result() for f in futures)
 
     def get_item(self, idx) -> dict:
         """Core __getitem__ logic. Assumes hf_dataset is loaded.

src/lerobot/datasets/factory.py

@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ def make_dataset(cfg: TrainPipelineConfig) -> LeRobotDataset | MultiLeRobotDatas
                 image_transforms=image_transforms,
                 revision=cfg.dataset.revision,
                 video_backend=cfg.dataset.video_backend,
+                return_uint8=True,
                 tolerance_s=cfg.tolerance_s,
             )
         else:
@@ -104,6 +105,7 @@ def make_dataset(cfg: TrainPipelineConfig) -> LeRobotDataset | MultiLeRobotDatas
                 revision=cfg.dataset.revision,
                 max_num_shards=cfg.num_workers,
                 tolerance_s=cfg.tolerance_s,
+                return_uint8=True,
             )
     else:
         raise NotImplementedError("The MultiLeRobotDataset isn't supported for now.")

src/lerobot/datasets/lerobot_dataset.py

@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ class LeRobotDataset(torch.utils.data.Dataset):
         force_cache_sync: bool = False,
         download_videos: bool = True,
         video_backend: str | None = None,
+        return_uint8: bool = False,
         batch_encoding_size: int = 1,
         vcodec: str = "libsvtav1",
         streaming_encoding: bool = False,
@@ -202,6 +203,7 @@ class LeRobotDataset(torch.utils.data.Dataset):
         self.tolerance_s = tolerance_s
         self.revision = revision if revision else CODEBASE_VERSION
         self._video_backend = video_backend if video_backend else get_safe_default_codec()
+        self._return_uint8 = return_uint8
         self._batch_encoding_size = batch_encoding_size
         self._vcodec = resolve_vcodec(vcodec)
         self._encoder_threads = encoder_threads
@@ -225,6 +227,7 @@ class LeRobotDataset(torch.utils.data.Dataset):
             video_backend=self._video_backend,
             delta_timestamps=delta_timestamps,
             image_transforms=image_transforms,
+            return_uint8=self._return_uint8,
         )
 
         # Load actual data
@@ -288,6 +291,7 @@ class LeRobotDataset(torch.utils.data.Dataset):
                 video_backend=self._video_backend,
                 delta_timestamps=self.delta_timestamps,
                 image_transforms=self.image_transforms,
+                return_uint8=self._return_uint8,
             )
         return self.reader
 
@@ -683,6 +687,7 @@ class LeRobotDataset(torch.utils.data.Dataset):
         obj.delta_timestamps = None
         obj.episodes = None
         obj._video_backend = video_backend if video_backend is not None else get_safe_default_codec()
+        obj._return_uint8 = False
         obj._batch_encoding_size = batch_encoding_size
         obj._vcodec = vcodec
         obj._encoder_threads = encoder_threads
@@ -775,6 +780,7 @@ class LeRobotDataset(torch.utils.data.Dataset):
         obj.delta_timestamps = None
         obj.episodes = None
         obj._video_backend = video_backend if video_backend else get_safe_default_codec()
+        obj._return_uint8 = False
         obj._batch_encoding_size = batch_encoding_size
         obj._vcodec = vcodec
         obj._encoder_threads = encoder_threads

src/lerobot/datasets/streaming_dataset.py

@@ -251,6 +251,7 @@ class StreamingLeRobotDataset(torch.utils.data.IterableDataset):
         seed: int = 42,
         rng: np.random.Generator | None = None,
         shuffle: bool = True,
+        return_uint8: bool = False,
     ):
         """Initialize a StreamingLeRobotDataset.
 
@@ -288,6 +289,7 @@ class StreamingLeRobotDataset(torch.utils.data.IterableDataset):
 
         self.streaming = streaming
         self.buffer_size = buffer_size
+        self._return_uint8 = return_uint8
 
         # We cache the video decoders to avoid re-initializing them at each frame (avoiding a ~10x slowdown)
         self.video_decoder_cache = None
@@ -553,7 +555,11 @@ class StreamingLeRobotDataset(torch.utils.data.IterableDataset):
             root = self.meta.url_root if self.streaming and not self.streaming_from_local else self.root
             video_path = f"{root}/{self.meta.get_video_file_path(ep_idx, video_key)}"
             frames = decode_video_frames_torchcodec(
-                video_path, query_ts, self.tolerance_s, decoder_cache=self.video_decoder_cache
+                video_path,
+                query_ts,
+                self.tolerance_s,
+                decoder_cache=self.video_decoder_cache,
+                return_uint8=self._return_uint8,
             )
 
             item[video_key] = frames.squeeze(0) if len(query_ts) == 1 else frames

src/lerobot/datasets/video_utils.py

@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ def decode_video_frames(
     timestamps: list[float],
     tolerance_s: float,
     backend: str | None = None,
+    return_uint8: bool = False,
 ) -> torch.Tensor:
     """
     Decodes video frames using the specified backend.
@@ -131,19 +132,23 @@ def decode_video_frames(
         video_path (Path): Path to the video file.
         timestamps (list[float]): List of timestamps to extract frames.
         tolerance_s (float): Allowed deviation in seconds for frame retrieval.
-        backend (str, optional): Backend to use for decoding. Defaults to "torchcodec" when available in the platform; otherwise, defaults to "pyav"..
+        backend (str, optional): Backend to use for decoding. Defaults to "torchcodec" when available in the platform; otherwise, defaults to "pyav".
+        return_uint8 (bool): If True, return raw uint8 frames without float32 normalization.
+            This reduces memory for DataLoader IPC; normalization can be done on GPU afterward.
 
     Returns:
-        torch.Tensor: Decoded frames.
+        torch.Tensor: Decoded frames (float32 in [0,1] by default, or uint8 if return_uint8=True).
 
     Currently supports torchcodec on cpu and pyav.
     """
     if backend is None:
         backend = get_safe_default_codec()
     if backend == "torchcodec":
-        return decode_video_frames_torchcodec(video_path, timestamps, tolerance_s)
+        return decode_video_frames_torchcodec(video_path, timestamps, tolerance_s, return_uint8=return_uint8)
     elif backend in ["pyav", "video_reader"]:
-        return decode_video_frames_torchvision(video_path, timestamps, tolerance_s, backend)
+        return decode_video_frames_torchvision(
+            video_path, timestamps, tolerance_s, backend, return_uint8=return_uint8
+        )
     else:
         raise ValueError(f"Unsupported video backend: {backend}")
 
@@ -154,6 +159,7 @@ def decode_video_frames_torchvision(
     tolerance_s: float,
     backend: str = "pyav",
     log_loaded_timestamps: bool = False,
+    return_uint8: bool = False,
 ) -> torch.Tensor:
     """Loads frames associated to the requested timestamps of a video
 
@@ -240,14 +246,17 @@ def decode_video_frames_torchvision(
     if log_loaded_timestamps:
         logger.info(f"{closest_ts=}")
 
-    # convert to the pytorch format which is float32 in [0,1] range (and channel first)
-    closest_frames = closest_frames.type(torch.float32) / 255
-
     if len(timestamps) != len(closest_frames):
         raise FrameTimestampError(
             f"Number of retrieved frames ({len(closest_frames)}) does not match "
             f"number of queried timestamps ({len(timestamps)})"
         )
+
+    if return_uint8:
+        return closest_frames
+
+    # convert to the pytorch format which is float32 in [0,1] range (and channel first)
+    closest_frames = closest_frames.type(torch.float32) / 255
     return closest_frames
 
 
@@ -306,6 +315,7 @@ def decode_video_frames_torchcodec(
     tolerance_s: float,
     log_loaded_timestamps: bool = False,
     decoder_cache: VideoDecoderCache | None = None,
+    return_uint8: bool = False,
 ) -> torch.Tensor:
     """Loads frames associated with the requested timestamps of a video using torchcodec.
 
@@ -373,14 +383,16 @@ def decode_video_frames_torchcodec(
     if log_loaded_timestamps:
         logger.info(f"{closest_ts=}")
 
-    # convert to float32 in [0,1] range
-    closest_frames = (closest_frames / 255.0).type(torch.float32)
-
     if not len(timestamps) == len(closest_frames):
         raise FrameTimestampError(
             f"Retrieved timestamps differ from queried {set(closest_frames) - set(timestamps)}"
         )
 
+    if return_uint8:
+        return closest_frames
+
+    # convert to float32 in [0,1] range
+    closest_frames = (closest_frames / 255.0).type(torch.float32)
     return closest_frames
 
 

src/lerobot/scripts/lerobot_train.py

@@ -386,7 +386,8 @@ def train(cfg: TrainPipelineConfig, accelerator: "Accelerator | None" = None):
         sampler=sampler,
         pin_memory=device.type == "cuda",
         drop_last=False,
-        prefetch_factor=2 if cfg.num_workers > 0 else None,
+        prefetch_factor=cfg.prefetch_factor if cfg.num_workers > 0 else None,
+        persistent_workers=cfg.persistent_workers and cfg.num_workers > 0,
     )
 
     # Prepare everything with accelerator
@@ -433,6 +434,9 @@ def train(cfg: TrainPipelineConfig, accelerator: "Accelerator | None" = None):
     for _ in range(step, cfg.steps):
         start_time = time.perf_counter()
         batch = next(dl_iter)
+        for cam_key in dataset.meta.camera_keys:
+            if cam_key in batch and batch[cam_key].dtype == torch.uint8:
+                batch[cam_key] = batch[cam_key].to(dtype=torch.float32) / 255.0
         batch = preprocessor(batch)
         train_tracker.dataloading_s = time.perf_counter() - start_time
 

tests/artifacts/policies/save_policy_to_safetensors.py

@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ def get_policy_stats(ds_repo_id: str, policy_name: str, policy_kwargs: dict):
     )
 
     batch = next(iter(dataloader))
+    for key in batch:
+        if isinstance(batch[key], torch.Tensor) and batch[key].dtype == torch.uint8:
+            batch[key] = batch[key].to(dtype=torch.float32) / 255.0
     batch = preprocessor(batch)
     loss, output_dict = policy.forward(batch)
 
@@ -82,6 +85,9 @@ def get_policy_stats(ds_repo_id: str, policy_name: str, policy_kwargs: dict):
     # indicating padding (those ending with "_is_pad")
     dataset.reader.delta_indices = None
     batch = next(iter(dataloader))
+    for key in batch:
+        if isinstance(batch[key], torch.Tensor) and batch[key].dtype == torch.uint8:
+            batch[key] = batch[key].to(dtype=torch.float32) / 255.0
     obs = {}
     for k in batch:
         # TODO: regenerate the safetensors

tests/policies/test_policies.py

@@ -196,6 +196,8 @@ def test_policy(ds_repo_id, env_name, env_kwargs, policy_name, policy_kwargs):
 
     for key in batch:
         if isinstance(batch[key], torch.Tensor):
+            if batch[key].dtype == torch.uint8:
+                batch[key] = batch[key].to(dtype=torch.float32) / 255.0
             batch[key] = batch[key].to(DEVICE, non_blocking=True)
 
     # Test updating the policy (and test that it does not mutate the batch)