fix(datasets): enforce one parquet row group per episode in v3 data writes (#3807)

* fix(datasets): enforce one parquet row group per episode in v3 data writes

LeRobot v3 data shards must hold exactly one row group per episode so a
reader can fetch episode i with pq.ParquetFile(path).read_row_group(i)
(a byte-range read) instead of loading the whole shard. The recording
writer already does this (one write_table per episode); the aggregate
and lerobot-annotate re-write paths instead concatenated many episodes
and wrote them in one shot, collapsing the file to a single row group.

- io_utils: add write_table_one_row_group_per_episode (one ParquetWriter,
  one write_table per episode — same pattern as the recording writer);
  to_parquet_with_hf_images embeds images then writes per-episode row
  groups; to_parquet_one_row_group_per_episode wraps it for plain frames
- aggregate: route non-image data writes through the per-episode writer;
  leave the episodes-metadata parquet untouched (already one row/episode)
- annotate: rewrite shards via the per-episode writer instead of a single
  bulk pq.write_table
- tests: invariant coverage through the aggregate (image + video) and
  annotate paths

No change to on-disk schema, paths, naming, rollover thresholds, or
compression. Readers stay backward-compatible (old collapsed files load).

* Update src/lerobot/datasets/io_utils.py

Co-authored-by: Caroline Pascal <caroline8.pascal@gmail.com>
Signed-off-by: Pepijn <138571049+pkooij@users.noreply.github.com>

* Update src/lerobot/datasets/io_utils.py

Co-authored-by: Caroline Pascal <caroline8.pascal@gmail.com>
Signed-off-by: Pepijn <138571049+pkooij@users.noreply.github.com>

* fix(datasets): correct indentation and add strict= in row-group helper

The web-edited numpy version of write_table_one_row_group_per_episode had an
over-indented line (IndentationError, breaking pre-commit + test collection)
and a zip() without strict=. Fix both; behaviour unchanged.

---------

Signed-off-by: Pepijn <138571049+pkooij@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Caroline Pascal <caroline8.pascal@gmail.com>

docs/source/hil_data_collection.mdx

@@ -57,11 +57,11 @@ The `lerobot-rollout --strategy.type=dagger` mode requires **teleoperators with
 
 **Compatible teleoperators:**
 
-- `openarm_mini` - OpenArm Mini
+- `bi_openarm_mini` - Bimanual OpenArm Mini
 - `so_leader` - SO100 / SO101 leader arm
 
 > [!IMPORTANT]
-> The provided commands default to `bi_openarm_follower` + `openarm_mini`.
+> The provided commands default to `bi_openarm_follower` + `bi_openarm_mini`.
 > `so_follower` + `so_leader` configs are also registered and can be used via CLI flags.
 
 ---
@@ -104,9 +104,9 @@ lerobot-rollout --strategy.type=dagger \
     --robot.right_arm_config.port=can0 \
     --robot.right_arm_config.side=right \
     --robot.cameras='{left_wrist: {type: opencv, index_or_path: "/dev/video0", width: 1280, height: 720, fps: 30}, right_wrist: {type: opencv, index_or_path: "/dev/video4", width: 1280, height: 720, fps: 30}, base: {type: opencv, index_or_path: "/dev/video2", width: 640, height: 480, fps: 30}}' \
-    --teleop.type=openarm_mini \
-    --teleop.port_left=/dev/ttyACM0 \
-    --teleop.port_right=/dev/ttyACM1 \
+    --teleop.type=bi_openarm_mini \
+    --teleop.left_arm_config.port=/dev/ttyACM0 \
+    --teleop.right_arm_config.port=/dev/ttyACM1 \
     --policy.path=outputs/pretrain/checkpoints/last/pretrained_model \
     --dataset.repo_id=your-username/rollout_hil_dataset \
     --dataset.single_task="Fold the T-shirt properly" \
@@ -131,9 +131,9 @@ lerobot-rollout --strategy.type=dagger \
     --robot.right_arm_config.port=can0 \
     --robot.right_arm_config.side=right \
     --robot.cameras='{left_wrist: {type: opencv, index_or_path: "/dev/video0", width: 1280, height: 720, fps: 30}, right_wrist: {type: opencv, index_or_path: "/dev/video4", width: 1280, height: 720, fps: 30}, base: {type: opencv, index_or_path: "/dev/video2", width: 640, height: 480, fps: 30}}' \
-    --teleop.type=openarm_mini \
-    --teleop.port_left=/dev/ttyACM0 \
-    --teleop.port_right=/dev/ttyACM1 \
+    --teleop.type=bi_openarm_mini \
+    --teleop.left_arm_config.port=/dev/ttyACM0 \
+    --teleop.right_arm_config.port=/dev/ttyACM1 \
     --policy.path=outputs/pretrain/checkpoints/last/pretrained_model \
     --dataset.repo_id=your-username/rollout_hil_rtc_dataset \
     --dataset.single_task="Fold the T-shirt properly" \

docs/source/inference.mdx

@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ lerobot-rollout \
     --strategy.num_episodes=20 \
     --policy.path=outputs/pretrain/checkpoints/last/pretrained_model \
     --robot.type=bi_openarm_follower \
-    --teleop.type=openarm_mini \
+    --teleop.type=bi_openarm_mini \
     --dataset.repo_id=${HF_USER}/rollout_hil_data \
     --dataset.single_task="Fold the T-shirt"
 ```

src/lerobot/annotations/steerable_pipeline/writer.py

@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ from typing import Any
 import pyarrow as pa
 import pyarrow.parquet as pq
 
+from lerobot.datasets.io_utils import write_table_one_row_group_per_episode
 from lerobot.datasets.language import (
     EVENT_ONLY_STYLES,
     LANGUAGE_EVENTS,
@@ -274,12 +275,11 @@ class LanguageColumnsWriter:
         new_table = self._materialize_table(
             table, per_row_persistent, per_row_events, drop_old=self.drop_existing_subtask_index
         )
-        # Atomic replace: write to a sibling tmp path and rename so a crash
-        # mid-write can't leave a half-written shard that ``pq.read_table``
-        # would then fail to open. ``Path.replace`` is atomic on POSIX +
-        # Windows when source and target sit on the same filesystem.
+        # Re-emit one row group per episode (a bulk pq.write_table would collapse
+        # them into one). Write to a sibling tmp path and atomically rename so a
+        # crash mid-write can't leave a half-written shard.
         tmp_path = path.with_suffix(path.suffix + ".tmp")
-        pq.write_table(new_table, tmp_path)
+        write_table_one_row_group_per_episode(new_table, tmp_path)
         tmp_path.replace(path)
 
     def _materialize_table(

src/lerobot/datasets/aggregate.py

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ from .feature_utils import features_equal_for_merge, get_hf_features_from_featur
 from .io_utils import (
     get_file_size_in_mb,
     get_parquet_file_size_in_mb,
+    to_parquet_one_row_group_per_episode,
     to_parquet_with_hf_images,
     write_info,
     write_stats,
@@ -551,6 +552,7 @@ def aggregate_data(src_meta, dst_meta, data_idx, data_files_size_in_mb, chunk_si
             aggr_root=dst_meta.root,
             hf_features=hf_features,
             concatenate=concatenate_data,
+            one_row_group_per_episode=True,
         )
 
         # Record the mapping from source to actual destination
@@ -628,6 +630,7 @@ def append_or_create_parquet_file(
     aggr_root: Path = None,
     hf_features: datasets.Features | None = None,
     concatenate: bool = True,
+    one_row_group_per_episode: bool = False,
 ) -> tuple[dict[str, int], tuple[int, int]]:
     """Appends data to an existing parquet file or creates a new one based on size constraints.
 
@@ -645,6 +648,8 @@ def append_or_create_parquet_file(
         aggr_root: Root path for the aggregated dataset.
         hf_features: Optional HuggingFace Features schema for proper image typing.
         concatenate: When False, always rotate to a new file instead of appending to the current one.
+        one_row_group_per_episode: True for DATA parquet (emit one row group per episode); False for
+            the episodes-metadata parquet (already one row per episode).
 
     Returns:
         tuple: (updated_idx, (dst_chunk, dst_file)) where updated_idx is the index dict
@@ -657,6 +662,8 @@ def append_or_create_parquet_file(
         dst_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         if contains_images:
             to_parquet_with_hf_images(df, dst_path, features=hf_features)
+        elif one_row_group_per_episode:
+            to_parquet_one_row_group_per_episode(df, dst_path)
         else:
             df.to_parquet(dst_path)
         return idx, (dst_chunk, dst_file)
@@ -683,6 +690,8 @@ def append_or_create_parquet_file(
 
     if contains_images:
         to_parquet_with_hf_images(final_df, target_path, features=hf_features)
+    elif one_row_group_per_episode:
+        to_parquet_one_row_group_per_episode(final_df, target_path)
     else:
         final_df.to_parquet(target_path)
 

src/lerobot/datasets/io_utils.py

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import datasets
 import numpy as np
 import pandas
 import pandas as pd
+import pyarrow as pa
 import pyarrow.dataset as pa_ds
 import pyarrow.parquet as pq
 import torch
@@ -270,21 +271,49 @@ def hf_transform_to_torch(items_dict: dict[str, list[Any]]) -> dict[str, list[to
     return items_dict
 
 
+def write_table_one_row_group_per_episode(table: pa.Table, path: Path) -> None:
+    """Write ``table`` with one parquet row group per episode (in episode order).
+
+    Keeps shards random-access friendly (``read_row_group(i)`` fetches episode i),
+    mirroring the recording writer. ``table`` must carry a contiguous
+    ``episode_index`` column.
+    """
+    episode_index = table.column("episode_index").to_numpy(zero_copy_only=False)
+    starts = np.concatenate(([0], np.nonzero(np.diff(episode_index))[0] + 1))
+    writer = pq.ParquetWriter(str(path), table.schema, compression="snappy", use_dictionary=True)
+    try:
+        for start, stop in zip(starts, np.append(starts[1:], len(episode_index)), strict=True):
+            writer.write_table(table.slice(start, stop - start))  # one episode -> one row group
+    finally:
+        writer.close()
+
+
 def to_parquet_with_hf_images(
     df: pandas.DataFrame, path: Path, features: datasets.Features | None = None
 ) -> None:
-    """This function correctly writes to parquet a panda DataFrame that contains images encoded by HF dataset.
-    This way, it can be loaded by HF dataset and correctly formatted images are returned.
+    """Write a DataFrame with HF-encoded images to parquet, one row group per episode.
 
-    Args:
-        df: DataFrame to write to parquet.
-        path: Path to write the parquet file.
-        features: Optional HuggingFace Features schema. If provided, ensures image columns
-                  are properly typed as Image() in the parquet schema.
+    Images are embedded into the arrow table first (``ParquetWriter.write_table``
+    does not embed external image files like ``Dataset.to_parquet`` does).
+    ``features`` types image columns as ``Image()`` in the parquet schema.
     """
-    # TODO(qlhoest): replace this weird synthax by `df.to_parquet(path)` only
     ds = datasets.Dataset.from_dict(df.to_dict(orient="list"), features=features)
-    ds.to_parquet(path)
+    ds = embed_images(ds)
+    table = ds.with_format("arrow")[:]
+    if "episode_index" in table.column_names:
+        write_table_one_row_group_per_episode(table, path)
+    else:
+        # No episode boundaries to align row groups to — keep a single write.
+        pq.write_table(table, str(path))
+
+
+def to_parquet_one_row_group_per_episode(df: pandas.DataFrame, path: Path) -> None:
+    """Write a (non-image) DataFrame to parquet with one row group per episode."""
+    table = pa.Table.from_pandas(df, preserve_index=False)
+    if "episode_index" in table.column_names:
+        write_table_one_row_group_per_episode(table, path)
+    else:
+        pq.write_table(table, str(path))
 
 
 def item_to_torch(item: dict) -> dict:

src/lerobot/datasets/pipeline_features.py

@@ -70,19 +70,21 @@ def aggregate_pipeline_dataset_features(
     initial_features: dict[PipelineFeatureType, dict[str, Any]],
     *,
     use_videos: bool = True,
+    exclude_images: bool = False,
     patterns: Sequence[str] | None = None,
 ) -> dict[str, dict]:
     """
     Aggregates and filters pipeline features to create a dataset-ready features dictionary.
 
     This function transforms initial features using the pipeline, categorizes them as action or observations
-    (image or state), filters them based on `use_videos` and `patterns`, and finally
+    (image or state), filters them based on `exclude_images` and `patterns`, and finally
     formats them for use with a Hugging Face LeRobot Dataset.
 
     Args:
         pipeline: The DataProcessorPipeline to apply.
         initial_features: A dictionary of raw feature specs for actions and observations.
-        use_videos: If False, image features are excluded.
+        use_videos: Controls the storage dtype for image features. If True, images are stored as "video"; if False, they are stored as "image".
+        exclude_images: If True, image features are dropped entirely from the output.
         patterns: A sequence of regex patterns to filter action and state features.
                   Image features are not affected by this filter.
 
@@ -120,7 +122,7 @@ def aggregate_pipeline_dataset_features(
             )
 
             # 2. Apply filtering rules.
-            if is_image and not use_videos:
+            if is_image and exclude_images:
                 continue
             if not is_image and not should_keep(key, compiled_patterns):
                 continue

src/lerobot/robots/bi_openarm_follower/bi_openarm_follower.py

@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ import logging
 from functools import cached_property
 
 from lerobot.types import RobotAction, RobotObservation
-from lerobot.utils.decorators import check_if_already_connected, check_if_not_connected
+from lerobot.utils.bimanual import BimanualMixin
+from lerobot.utils.decorators import check_if_not_connected
 
 from ..openarm_follower import OpenArmFollower, OpenArmFollowerConfig
 from ..robot import Robot
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ from .config_bi_openarm_follower import BiOpenArmFollowerConfig
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class BiOpenArmFollower(Robot):
+class BiOpenArmFollower(BimanualMixin, Robot):
     """
     Bimanual OpenArm Follower Arms
     """
@@ -39,15 +40,17 @@ class BiOpenArmFollower(Robot):
         super().__init__(config)
         self.config = config
 
-        # Top-level cameras are distributed evenly: each arm's OpenArmFollower
-        # will only open the cameras assigned to it. Per-arm cameras are used
-        # as fallback when top-level cameras are empty.
-        if config.cameras:
-            left_cameras = config.cameras
-            right_cameras = {}
-        else:
-            left_cameras = config.left_arm_config.cameras
-            right_cameras = config.right_arm_config.cameras
+        # Top-level cameras are opened by `left_arm` for convenience, but their
+        # keys stay unprefixed in observations (tracked via `_top_level_cam_keys`).
+        self._top_level_cam_keys = set(config.cameras)
+        _collisions = self._top_level_cam_keys & set(
+            config.left_arm_config.cameras
+        ) | self._top_level_cam_keys & set(config.right_arm_config.cameras)
+        if _collisions:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Top-level camera names collide with per-arm camera names: {sorted(_collisions)}"
+            )
+        left_arm_cameras = {**config.left_arm_config.cameras, **config.cameras}
 
         left_arm_config = OpenArmFollowerConfig(
             id=f"{config.id}_left" if config.id else None,
@@ -56,7 +59,7 @@ class BiOpenArmFollower(Robot):
             disable_torque_on_disconnect=config.left_arm_config.disable_torque_on_disconnect,
             use_velocity_and_torque=config.left_arm_config.use_velocity_and_torque,
             max_relative_target=config.left_arm_config.max_relative_target,
-            cameras=left_cameras,
+            cameras=left_arm_cameras,
             side=config.left_arm_config.side,
             can_interface=config.left_arm_config.can_interface,
             use_can_fd=config.left_arm_config.use_can_fd,
@@ -75,7 +78,7 @@ class BiOpenArmFollower(Robot):
             disable_torque_on_disconnect=config.right_arm_config.disable_torque_on_disconnect,
             use_velocity_and_torque=config.right_arm_config.use_velocity_and_torque,
             max_relative_target=config.right_arm_config.max_relative_target,
-            cameras=right_cameras,
+            cameras=config.right_arm_config.cameras,
             side=config.right_arm_config.side,
             can_interface=config.right_arm_config.can_interface,
             use_can_fd=config.right_arm_config.use_can_fd,
@@ -95,22 +98,19 @@ class BiOpenArmFollower(Robot):
 
     @property
     def _motors_ft(self) -> dict[str, type]:
-        left_arm_motors_ft = self.left_arm._motors_ft
-        right_arm_motors_ft = self.right_arm._motors_ft
-
-        # Right first, then left — matches the teleoperator (OpenArmMini) ordering
-        # and the dataset feature names recorded during data collection.
         return {
-            **{f"right_{k}": v for k, v in right_arm_motors_ft.items()},
-            **{f"left_{k}": v for k, v in left_arm_motors_ft.items()},
+            **{f"left_{k}": v for k, v in self.left_arm._motors_ft.items()},
+            **{f"right_{k}": v for k, v in self.right_arm._motors_ft.items()},
         }
 
     @property
     def _cameras_ft(self) -> dict[str, tuple]:
-        # Cameras already have unique user-chosen names (e.g. "left_wrist", "base",
-        # "right_wrist"), so we merge them directly — unlike motors which need the
-        # left_/right_ prefix to disambiguate identical per-arm joint names.
-        return {**self.left_arm._cameras_ft, **self.right_arm._cameras_ft}
+        out: dict[str, tuple] = {}
+        for k, v in self.left_arm._cameras_ft.items():
+            out[k if k in self._top_level_cam_keys else f"left_{k}"] = v
+        for k, v in self.right_arm._cameras_ft.items():
+            out[f"right_{k}"] = v
+        return out
 
     @cached_property
     def observation_features(self) -> dict[str, type | tuple]:
@@ -120,27 +120,6 @@ class BiOpenArmFollower(Robot):
     def action_features(self) -> dict[str, type]:
         return self._motors_ft
 
-    @property
-    def is_connected(self) -> bool:
-        return self.left_arm.is_connected and self.right_arm.is_connected
-
-    @check_if_already_connected
-    def connect(self, calibrate: bool = True) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.connect(calibrate)
-        self.right_arm.connect(calibrate)
-
-    @property
-    def is_calibrated(self) -> bool:
-        return self.left_arm.is_calibrated and self.right_arm.is_calibrated
-
-    def calibrate(self) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.calibrate()
-        self.right_arm.calibrate()
-
-    def configure(self) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.configure()
-        self.right_arm.configure()
-
     def setup_motors(self) -> None:
         raise NotImplementedError(
             "Motor ID configuration is typically done via manufacturer tools for CAN motors."
@@ -148,21 +127,15 @@ class BiOpenArmFollower(Robot):
 
     @check_if_not_connected
     def get_observation(self) -> RobotObservation:
-        obs_dict = {}
+        obs_dict: RobotObservation = {}
 
-        # Camera keys that should NOT get the arm prefix (they already have unique names)
-        left_cam_keys = set(self.left_arm.cameras.keys())
-        right_cam_keys = set(self.right_arm.cameras.keys())
+        # Add "left_" prefix to per-arm keys; keep top-level camera keys unprefixed.
+        for key, value in self.left_arm.get_observation().items():
+            obs_dict[key if key in self._top_level_cam_keys else f"left_{key}"] = value
 
-        # Right first, then left — matches the teleoperator (OpenArmMini) ordering
-        # and the dataset feature names recorded during data collection.
-        right_obs = self.right_arm.get_observation()
-        for key, value in right_obs.items():
-            obs_dict[key if key in right_cam_keys else f"right_{key}"] = value
-
-        left_obs = self.left_arm.get_observation()
-        for key, value in left_obs.items():
-            obs_dict[key if key in left_cam_keys else f"left_{key}"] = value
+        # Add "right_" prefix
+        for key, value in self.right_arm.get_observation().items():
+            obs_dict[f"right_{key}"] = value
 
         return obs_dict
 
@@ -189,9 +162,4 @@ class BiOpenArmFollower(Robot):
         prefixed_sent_action_left = {f"left_{key}": value for key, value in sent_action_left.items()}
         prefixed_sent_action_right = {f"right_{key}": value for key, value in sent_action_right.items()}
 
-        return {**prefixed_sent_action_right, **prefixed_sent_action_left}
-
-    @check_if_not_connected
-    def disconnect(self):
-        self.left_arm.disconnect()
-        self.right_arm.disconnect()
+        return {**prefixed_sent_action_left, **prefixed_sent_action_right}

src/lerobot/robots/bi_openarm_follower/config_bi_openarm_follower.py

@@ -32,5 +32,7 @@ class BiOpenArmFollowerConfig(RobotConfig):
     left_arm_config: OpenArmFollowerConfigBase
     right_arm_config: OpenArmFollowerConfigBase
 
-    # Top-level cameras shared across both arms.
+    # Top-level cameras not attached to a specific side. Keys are kept as-is in
+    # observations (no `left_`/`right_` prefix). Per-arm cameras (declared on
+    # `{left,right}_arm_config.cameras`) are prefixed.
     cameras: dict[str, CameraConfig] = field(default_factory=dict)

src/lerobot/robots/bi_rebot_b601_follower/bi_rebot_b601_follower.py

@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ import logging
 from functools import cached_property
 
 from lerobot.types import RobotAction, RobotObservation
-from lerobot.utils.decorators import check_if_already_connected, check_if_not_connected
+from lerobot.utils.bimanual import BimanualMixin
+from lerobot.utils.decorators import check_if_not_connected
 
 from ..rebot_b601_follower import RebotB601Follower, RebotB601FollowerRobotConfig
 from ..robot import Robot
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ from .config_bi_rebot_b601_follower import BiRebotB601FollowerConfig
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class BiRebotB601Follower(Robot):
+class BiRebotB601Follower(BimanualMixin, Robot):
     """Bimanual Seeed Studio reBot B601-DM follower.
 
     Composes two single-arm :class:`RebotB601Follower` instances. Observation and
@@ -41,6 +42,18 @@ class BiRebotB601Follower(Robot):
         super().__init__(config)
         self.config = config
 
+        # Top-level cameras are opened by `left_arm` for convenience, but their
+        # keys stay unprefixed in observations (tracked via `_top_level_cam_keys`).
+        self._top_level_cam_keys = set(config.cameras)
+        _collisions = self._top_level_cam_keys & set(
+            config.left_arm_config.cameras
+        ) | self._top_level_cam_keys & set(config.right_arm_config.cameras)
+        if _collisions:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Top-level camera names collide with per-arm camera names: {sorted(_collisions)}"
+            )
+        left_arm_cameras = {**config.left_arm_config.cameras, **config.cameras}
+
         left_arm_config = RebotB601FollowerRobotConfig(
             id=f"{config.id}_left" if config.id else None,
             calibration_dir=config.calibration_dir,
@@ -49,7 +62,7 @@ class BiRebotB601Follower(Robot):
             dm_serial_baud=config.left_arm_config.dm_serial_baud,
             disable_torque_on_disconnect=config.left_arm_config.disable_torque_on_disconnect,
             max_relative_target=config.left_arm_config.max_relative_target,
-            cameras=config.left_arm_config.cameras,
+            cameras=left_arm_cameras,
             motor_can_ids=config.left_arm_config.motor_can_ids,
             pos_vel_velocity=config.left_arm_config.pos_vel_velocity,
             gripper_torque_ratio=config.left_arm_config.gripper_torque_ratio,
@@ -86,10 +99,12 @@ class BiRebotB601Follower(Robot):
 
     @property
     def _cameras_ft(self) -> dict[str, tuple]:
-        return {
-            **{f"left_{k}": v for k, v in self.left_arm._cameras_ft.items()},
-            **{f"right_{k}": v for k, v in self.right_arm._cameras_ft.items()},
-        }
+        out: dict[str, tuple] = {}
+        for k, v in self.left_arm._cameras_ft.items():
+            out[k if k in self._top_level_cam_keys else f"left_{k}"] = v
+        for k, v in self.right_arm._cameras_ft.items():
+            out[f"right_{k}"] = v
+        return out
 
     @cached_property
     def observation_features(self) -> dict[str, type | tuple]:
@@ -99,32 +114,13 @@ class BiRebotB601Follower(Robot):
     def action_features(self) -> dict[str, type]:
         return self._motors_ft
 
-    @property
-    def is_connected(self) -> bool:
-        return self.left_arm.is_connected and self.right_arm.is_connected
-
-    @check_if_already_connected
-    def connect(self, calibrate: bool = True) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.connect(calibrate)
-        self.right_arm.connect(calibrate)
-
-    @property
-    def is_calibrated(self) -> bool:
-        return self.left_arm.is_calibrated and self.right_arm.is_calibrated
-
-    def calibrate(self) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.calibrate()
-        self.right_arm.calibrate()
-
-    def configure(self) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.configure()
-        self.right_arm.configure()
-
     @check_if_not_connected
     def get_observation(self) -> RobotObservation:
-        obs_dict = {}
-        obs_dict.update({f"left_{k}": v for k, v in self.left_arm.get_observation().items()})
-        obs_dict.update({f"right_{k}": v for k, v in self.right_arm.get_observation().items()})
+        obs_dict: RobotObservation = {}
+        for k, v in self.left_arm.get_observation().items():
+            obs_dict[k if k in self._top_level_cam_keys else f"left_{k}"] = v
+        for k, v in self.right_arm.get_observation().items():
+            obs_dict[f"right_{k}"] = v
         return obs_dict
 
     @check_if_not_connected
@@ -143,8 +139,3 @@ class BiRebotB601Follower(Robot):
             **{f"left_{k}": v for k, v in sent_action_left.items()},
             **{f"right_{k}": v for k, v in sent_action_right.items()},
         }
-
-    @check_if_not_connected
-    def disconnect(self) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.disconnect()
-        self.right_arm.disconnect()

src/lerobot/robots/bi_rebot_b601_follower/config_bi_rebot_b601_follower.py

@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-from dataclasses import dataclass
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+
+from lerobot.cameras import CameraConfig
 
 from ..config import RobotConfig
 from ..rebot_b601_follower import RebotB601FollowerConfig
@@ -27,3 +29,8 @@ class BiRebotB601FollowerConfig(RobotConfig):
 
     left_arm_config: RebotB601FollowerConfig
     right_arm_config: RebotB601FollowerConfig
+
+    # Top-level cameras not attached to a specific side. Keys are kept as-is in
+    # observations (no `left_`/`right_` prefix). Per-arm cameras (declared on
+    # `{left,right}_arm_config.cameras`) are prefixed.
+    cameras: dict[str, CameraConfig] = field(default_factory=dict)

src/lerobot/robots/bi_so_follower/bi_so_follower.py

@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ import logging
 from functools import cached_property
 
 from lerobot.types import RobotAction, RobotObservation
-from lerobot.utils.decorators import check_if_already_connected, check_if_not_connected
+from lerobot.utils.bimanual import BimanualMixin
+from lerobot.utils.decorators import check_if_not_connected
 
 from ..robot import Robot
 from ..so_follower import SOFollower, SOFollowerRobotConfig
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ from .config_bi_so_follower import BiSOFollowerConfig
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class BiSOFollower(Robot):
+class BiSOFollower(BimanualMixin, Robot):
     """
     [Bimanual SO Follower Arms](https://github.com/TheRobotStudio/SO-ARM100) designed by TheRobotStudio
     """
@@ -39,6 +40,18 @@ class BiSOFollower(Robot):
         super().__init__(config)
         self.config = config
 
+        # Top-level cameras are opened by `left_arm` for convenience, but their
+        # keys stay unprefixed in observations (tracked via `_top_level_cam_keys`).
+        self._top_level_cam_keys = set(config.cameras)
+        _collisions = self._top_level_cam_keys & set(
+            config.left_arm_config.cameras
+        ) | self._top_level_cam_keys & set(config.right_arm_config.cameras)
+        if _collisions:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Top-level camera names collide with per-arm camera names: {sorted(_collisions)}"
+            )
+        left_arm_cameras = {**config.left_arm_config.cameras, **config.cameras}
+
         left_arm_config = SOFollowerRobotConfig(
             id=f"{config.id}_left" if config.id else None,
             calibration_dir=config.calibration_dir,
@@ -46,7 +59,7 @@ class BiSOFollower(Robot):
             disable_torque_on_disconnect=config.left_arm_config.disable_torque_on_disconnect,
             max_relative_target=config.left_arm_config.max_relative_target,
             use_degrees=config.left_arm_config.use_degrees,
-            cameras=config.left_arm_config.cameras,
+            cameras=left_arm_cameras,
         )
 
         right_arm_config = SOFollowerRobotConfig(
@@ -77,13 +90,12 @@ class BiSOFollower(Robot):
 
     @property
     def _cameras_ft(self) -> dict[str, tuple]:
-        left_arm_cameras_ft = self.left_arm._cameras_ft
-        right_arm_cameras_ft = self.right_arm._cameras_ft
-
-        return {
-            **{f"left_{k}": v for k, v in left_arm_cameras_ft.items()},
-            **{f"right_{k}": v for k, v in right_arm_cameras_ft.items()},
-        }
+        out: dict[str, tuple] = {}
+        for k, v in self.left_arm._cameras_ft.items():
+            out[k if k in self._top_level_cam_keys else f"left_{k}"] = v
+        for k, v in self.right_arm._cameras_ft.items():
+            out[f"right_{k}"] = v
+        return out
 
     @cached_property
     def observation_features(self) -> dict[str, type | tuple]:
@@ -93,42 +105,21 @@ class BiSOFollower(Robot):
     def action_features(self) -> dict[str, type]:
         return self._motors_ft
 
-    @property
-    def is_connected(self) -> bool:
-        return self.left_arm.is_connected and self.right_arm.is_connected
-
-    @check_if_already_connected
-    def connect(self, calibrate: bool = True) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.connect(calibrate)
-        self.right_arm.connect(calibrate)
-
-    @property
-    def is_calibrated(self) -> bool:
-        return self.left_arm.is_calibrated and self.right_arm.is_calibrated
-
-    def calibrate(self) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.calibrate()
-        self.right_arm.calibrate()
-
-    def configure(self) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.configure()
-        self.right_arm.configure()
-
     def setup_motors(self) -> None:
         self.left_arm.setup_motors()
         self.right_arm.setup_motors()
 
     @check_if_not_connected
     def get_observation(self) -> RobotObservation:
-        obs_dict = {}
+        obs_dict: RobotObservation = {}
 
-        # Add "left_" prefix
-        left_obs = self.left_arm.get_observation()
-        obs_dict.update({f"left_{key}": value for key, value in left_obs.items()})
+        # Add "left_" prefix to per-arm keys; keep top-level camera keys unprefixed.
+        for key, value in self.left_arm.get_observation().items():
+            obs_dict[key if key in self._top_level_cam_keys else f"left_{key}"] = value
 
         # Add "right_" prefix
-        right_obs = self.right_arm.get_observation()
-        obs_dict.update({f"right_{key}": value for key, value in right_obs.items()})
+        for key, value in self.right_arm.get_observation().items():
+            obs_dict[f"right_{key}"] = value
 
         return obs_dict
 
@@ -151,8 +142,3 @@ class BiSOFollower(Robot):
         prefixed_sent_action_right = {f"right_{key}": value for key, value in sent_action_right.items()}
 
         return {**prefixed_sent_action_left, **prefixed_sent_action_right}
-
-    @check_if_not_connected
-    def disconnect(self):
-        self.left_arm.disconnect()
-        self.right_arm.disconnect()

src/lerobot/robots/bi_so_follower/config_bi_so_follower.py

@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-from dataclasses import dataclass
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+
+from lerobot.cameras import CameraConfig
 
 from ..config import RobotConfig
 from ..so_follower import SOFollowerConfig
@@ -27,3 +29,8 @@ class BiSOFollowerConfig(RobotConfig):
 
     left_arm_config: SOFollowerConfig
     right_arm_config: SOFollowerConfig
+
+    # Top-level cameras not attached to a specific side. Keys are kept as-is in
+    # observations (no `left_`/`right_` prefix). Per-arm cameras (declared on
+    # `{left,right}_arm_config.cameras`) are prefixed.
+    cameras: dict[str, CameraConfig] = field(default_factory=dict)

src/lerobot/scripts/lerobot_calibrate.py

@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ from lerobot.teleoperators import (  # noqa: F401
     Teleoperator,
     TeleoperatorConfig,
     bi_openarm_leader,
+    bi_openarm_mini,
     bi_rebot_102_leader,
     bi_so_leader,
     homunculus,

src/lerobot/scripts/lerobot_find_joint_limits.py

@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ from lerobot.robots import (  # noqa: F401
 from lerobot.teleoperators import (  # noqa: F401
     TeleoperatorConfig,
     bi_openarm_leader,
+    bi_openarm_mini,
     bi_rebot_102_leader,
     bi_so_leader,
     gamepad,

src/lerobot/scripts/lerobot_record.py

@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ from lerobot.teleoperators import (  # noqa: F401
     Teleoperator,
     TeleoperatorConfig,
     bi_openarm_leader,
+    bi_openarm_mini,
     bi_rebot_102_leader,
     bi_so_leader,
     homunculus,

src/lerobot/scripts/lerobot_rollout.py

@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ from lerobot.teleoperators import (  # noqa: F401
     Teleoperator,
     TeleoperatorConfig,
     bi_openarm_leader,
+    bi_openarm_mini,
     bi_rebot_102_leader,
     bi_so_leader,
     homunculus,

src/lerobot/scripts/lerobot_setup_motors.py

@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ from lerobot.robots import (  # noqa: F401
 )
 from lerobot.teleoperators import (  # noqa: F401
     TeleoperatorConfig,
+    bi_openarm_mini,
     bi_rebot_102_leader,
     bi_so_leader,
     koch_leader,

src/lerobot/scripts/lerobot_teleoperate.py

@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ from lerobot.teleoperators import (  # noqa: F401
     Teleoperator,
     TeleoperatorConfig,
     bi_openarm_leader,
+    bi_openarm_mini,
     bi_rebot_102_leader,
     bi_so_leader,
     gamepad,

src/lerobot/teleoperators/bi_openarm_leader/bi_openarm_leader.py

@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ import logging
 from functools import cached_property
 
 from lerobot.types import RobotAction
-from lerobot.utils.decorators import check_if_already_connected, check_if_not_connected
+from lerobot.utils.bimanual import BimanualMixin
+from lerobot.utils.decorators import check_if_not_connected
 
 from ..openarm_leader import OpenArmLeader, OpenArmLeaderConfig
 from ..teleoperator import Teleoperator
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ from .config_bi_openarm_leader import BiOpenArmLeaderConfig
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class BiOpenArmLeader(Teleoperator):
+class BiOpenArmLeader(BimanualMixin, Teleoperator):
     """
     Bimanual OpenArm Leader Arms
     """
@@ -86,27 +87,6 @@ class BiOpenArmLeader(Teleoperator):
     def feedback_features(self) -> dict[str, type]:
         return {}
 
-    @property
-    def is_connected(self) -> bool:
-        return self.left_arm.is_connected and self.right_arm.is_connected
-
-    @check_if_already_connected
-    def connect(self, calibrate: bool = True) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.connect(calibrate)
-        self.right_arm.connect(calibrate)
-
-    @property
-    def is_calibrated(self) -> bool:
-        return self.left_arm.is_calibrated and self.right_arm.is_calibrated
-
-    def calibrate(self) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.calibrate()
-        self.right_arm.calibrate()
-
-    def configure(self) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.configure()
-        self.right_arm.configure()
-
     def setup_motors(self) -> None:
         raise NotImplementedError(
             "Motor ID configuration is typically done via manufacturer tools for CAN motors."
@@ -129,8 +109,3 @@ class BiOpenArmLeader(Teleoperator):
     def send_feedback(self, feedback: dict[str, float]) -> None:
         # TODO: Implement force feedback
         raise NotImplementedError
-
-    @check_if_not_connected
-    def disconnect(self) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.disconnect()
-        self.right_arm.disconnect()

src/lerobot/teleoperators/bi_openarm_leader/config_bi_openarm_leader.py

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from ..openarm_leader import OpenArmLeaderConfigBase
 @TeleoperatorConfig.register_subclass("bi_openarm_leader")
 @dataclass
 class BiOpenArmLeaderConfig(TeleoperatorConfig):
-    """Configuration class for Bi OpenArm Follower robots."""
+    """Configuration class for Bi OpenArm Leader teleoperators."""
 
     left_arm_config: OpenArmLeaderConfigBase
     right_arm_config: OpenArmLeaderConfigBase

src/lerobot/teleoperators/bi_openarm_mini/__init__.py

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+# Copyright 2026 The HuggingFace Inc. team. All rights reserved.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+from .bi_openarm_mini import BiOpenArmMini
+from .config_bi_openarm_mini import BiOpenArmMiniConfig
+
+__all__ = ["BiOpenArmMini", "BiOpenArmMiniConfig"]

src/lerobot/teleoperators/bi_openarm_mini/bi_openarm_mini.py

@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+# Copyright 2026 The HuggingFace Inc. team. All rights reserved.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+import logging
+from functools import cached_property
+
+from lerobot.types import RobotAction
+from lerobot.utils.bimanual import BimanualMixin
+from lerobot.utils.decorators import check_if_not_connected
+
+from ..openarm_mini import OpenArmMini, OpenArmMiniConfig
+from ..teleoperator import Teleoperator
+from .config_bi_openarm_mini import BiOpenArmMiniConfig
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+class BiOpenArmMini(BimanualMixin, Teleoperator):
+    """Bimanual OpenArm Mini teleoperator.
+
+    Composes two single-arm :class:`OpenArmMini` instances. Action and feedback
+    keys of each arm are namespaced with a ``left_`` / ``right_`` prefix, so a
+    bimanual leader can teleoperate a bimanual OpenArm follower.
+    """
+
+    config_class = BiOpenArmMiniConfig
+    name = "bi_openarm_mini"
+
+    def __init__(self, config: BiOpenArmMiniConfig):
+        super().__init__(config)
+        self.config = config
+
+        # `side` is forced to match left/right regardless of what the user passed
+        # on the per-arm base config — the bimanual wrapper owns the side semantics.
+        left_arm_config = OpenArmMiniConfig(
+            id=f"{config.id}_left" if config.id else None,
+            calibration_dir=config.calibration_dir,
+            port=config.left_arm_config.port,
+            side="left",
+            use_degrees=config.left_arm_config.use_degrees,
+        )
+
+        right_arm_config = OpenArmMiniConfig(
+            id=f"{config.id}_right" if config.id else None,
+            calibration_dir=config.calibration_dir,
+            port=config.right_arm_config.port,
+            side="right",
+            use_degrees=config.right_arm_config.use_degrees,
+        )
+
+        self.left_arm = OpenArmMini(left_arm_config)
+        self.right_arm = OpenArmMini(right_arm_config)
+
+    @cached_property
+    def action_features(self) -> dict[str, type]:
+        return {
+            **{f"left_{k}": v for k, v in self.left_arm.action_features.items()},
+            **{f"right_{k}": v for k, v in self.right_arm.action_features.items()},
+        }
+
+    @cached_property
+    def feedback_features(self) -> dict[str, type]:
+        return {
+            **{f"left_{k}": v for k, v in self.left_arm.feedback_features.items()},
+            **{f"right_{k}": v for k, v in self.right_arm.feedback_features.items()},
+        }
+
+    def setup_motors(self) -> None:
+        self.left_arm.setup_motors()
+        self.right_arm.setup_motors()
+
+    @check_if_not_connected
+    def get_action(self) -> RobotAction:
+        action: RobotAction = {}
+        for k, v in self.left_arm.get_action().items():
+            action[f"left_{k}"] = v
+        for k, v in self.right_arm.get_action().items():
+            action[f"right_{k}"] = v
+        return action
+
+    @check_if_not_connected
+    def send_feedback(self, feedback: dict[str, float]) -> None:
+        left_fb = {k.removeprefix("left_"): v for k, v in feedback.items() if k.startswith("left_")}
+        right_fb = {k.removeprefix("right_"): v for k, v in feedback.items() if k.startswith("right_")}
+        if left_fb:
+            self.left_arm.send_feedback(left_fb)
+        if right_fb:
+            self.right_arm.send_feedback(right_fb)

src/lerobot/teleoperators/bi_openarm_mini/config_bi_openarm_mini.py

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+# Copyright 2026 The HuggingFace Inc. team. All rights reserved.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+from ..config import TeleoperatorConfig
+from ..openarm_mini import OpenArmMiniConfigBase
+
+
+@TeleoperatorConfig.register_subclass("bi_openarm_mini")
+@dataclass
+class BiOpenArmMiniConfig(TeleoperatorConfig):
+    """Configuration class for Bi OpenArm Mini teleoperators."""
+
+    left_arm_config: OpenArmMiniConfigBase
+    right_arm_config: OpenArmMiniConfigBase

src/lerobot/teleoperators/bi_rebot_102_leader/__init__.py

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-from .bi_rebot_102_leader import BiRebotArm102Leader
-from .config_bi_rebot_102_leader import BiRebotArm102LeaderConfig
+from .bi_rebot_102_leader import BiRebot102Leader
+from .config_bi_rebot_102_leader import BiRebot102LeaderConfig
 
-__all__ = ["BiRebotArm102Leader", "BiRebotArm102LeaderConfig"]
+__all__ = ["BiRebot102Leader", "BiRebot102LeaderConfig"]

src/lerobot/teleoperators/bi_rebot_102_leader/bi_rebot_102_leader.py

@@ -18,16 +18,17 @@ import logging
 from functools import cached_property
 
 from lerobot.types import RobotAction
-from lerobot.utils.decorators import check_if_already_connected, check_if_not_connected
+from lerobot.utils.bimanual import BimanualMixin
+from lerobot.utils.decorators import check_if_not_connected
 
 from ..rebot_102_leader import RebotArm102Leader, RebotArm102LeaderTeleopConfig
 from ..teleoperator import Teleoperator
-from .config_bi_rebot_102_leader import BiRebotArm102LeaderConfig
+from .config_bi_rebot_102_leader import BiRebot102LeaderConfig
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class BiRebotArm102Leader(Teleoperator):
+class BiRebot102Leader(BimanualMixin, Teleoperator):
     """Bimanual Seeed Studio StarArm102 / reBot Arm 102 leader.
 
     Composes two single-arm :class:`RebotArm102Leader` instances. Action keys of
@@ -35,10 +36,10 @@ class BiRebotArm102Leader(Teleoperator):
     leader can teleoperate a bimanual reBot B601 follower.
     """
 
-    config_class = BiRebotArm102LeaderConfig
+    config_class = BiRebot102LeaderConfig
     name = "bi_rebot_102_leader"
 
-    def __init__(self, config: BiRebotArm102LeaderConfig):
+    def __init__(self, config: BiRebot102LeaderConfig):
         super().__init__(config)
         self.config = config
 
@@ -76,27 +77,6 @@ class BiRebotArm102Leader(Teleoperator):
     def feedback_features(self) -> dict[str, type]:
         return {}
 
-    @property
-    def is_connected(self) -> bool:
-        return self.left_arm.is_connected and self.right_arm.is_connected
-
-    @check_if_already_connected
-    def connect(self, calibrate: bool = True) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.connect(calibrate)
-        self.right_arm.connect(calibrate)
-
-    @property
-    def is_calibrated(self) -> bool:
-        return self.left_arm.is_calibrated and self.right_arm.is_calibrated
-
-    def calibrate(self) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.calibrate()
-        self.right_arm.calibrate()
-
-    def configure(self) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.configure()
-        self.right_arm.configure()
-
     @check_if_not_connected
     def get_action(self) -> RobotAction:
         action_dict = {}
@@ -106,8 +86,3 @@ class BiRebotArm102Leader(Teleoperator):
 
     def send_feedback(self, feedback: dict[str, float]) -> None:
         raise NotImplementedError("Feedback is not implemented for the reBot Arm 102 leader.")
-
-    @check_if_not_connected
-    def disconnect(self) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.disconnect()
-        self.right_arm.disconnect()

src/lerobot/teleoperators/bi_rebot_102_leader/config_bi_rebot_102_leader.py

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ from ..rebot_102_leader import RebotArm102LeaderConfig
 
 @TeleoperatorConfig.register_subclass("bi_rebot_102_leader")
 @dataclass
-class BiRebotArm102LeaderConfig(TeleoperatorConfig):
+class BiRebot102LeaderConfig(TeleoperatorConfig):
     """Configuration class for the bimanual reBot Arm 102 leader teleoperator."""
 
     left_arm_config: RebotArm102LeaderConfig

src/lerobot/teleoperators/bi_so_leader/bi_so_leader.py

@@ -17,7 +17,9 @@
 import logging
 from functools import cached_property
 
-from lerobot.utils.decorators import check_if_already_connected, check_if_not_connected
+from lerobot.types import RobotAction
+from lerobot.utils.bimanual import BimanualMixin
+from lerobot.utils.decorators import check_if_not_connected
 
 from ..so_leader import SOLeader, SOLeaderTeleopConfig
 from ..teleoperator import Teleoperator
@@ -26,7 +28,7 @@ from .config_bi_so_leader import BiSOLeaderConfig
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class BiSOLeader(Teleoperator):
+class BiSOLeader(BimanualMixin, Teleoperator):
     """
     [Bimanual SO Leader Arms](https://github.com/TheRobotStudio/SO-ARM100) designed by TheRobotStudio
     """
@@ -67,33 +69,12 @@ class BiSOLeader(Teleoperator):
     def feedback_features(self) -> dict[str, type]:
         return {}
 
-    @property
-    def is_connected(self) -> bool:
-        return self.left_arm.is_connected and self.right_arm.is_connected
-
-    @check_if_already_connected
-    def connect(self, calibrate: bool = True) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.connect(calibrate)
-        self.right_arm.connect(calibrate)
-
-    @property
-    def is_calibrated(self) -> bool:
-        return self.left_arm.is_calibrated and self.right_arm.is_calibrated
-
-    def calibrate(self) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.calibrate()
-        self.right_arm.calibrate()
-
-    def configure(self) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.configure()
-        self.right_arm.configure()
-
     def setup_motors(self) -> None:
         self.left_arm.setup_motors()
         self.right_arm.setup_motors()
 
     @check_if_not_connected
-    def get_action(self) -> dict[str, float]:
+    def get_action(self) -> RobotAction:
         action_dict = {}
 
         # Add "left_" prefix
@@ -109,8 +90,3 @@ class BiSOLeader(Teleoperator):
     def send_feedback(self, feedback: dict[str, float]) -> None:
         # TODO: Implement force feedback
         raise NotImplementedError
-
-    @check_if_not_connected
-    def disconnect(self) -> None:
-        self.left_arm.disconnect()
-        self.right_arm.disconnect()

src/lerobot/teleoperators/openarm_mini/__init__.py

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 
-# Copyright 2025 The HuggingFace Inc. team. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright 2026 The HuggingFace Inc. team. All rights reserved.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-from .config_openarm_mini import OpenArmMiniConfig
+from .config_openarm_mini import OpenArmMiniConfig, OpenArmMiniConfigBase
 from .openarm_mini import OpenArmMini
 
-__all__ = ["OpenArmMini", "OpenArmMiniConfig"]
+__all__ = ["OpenArmMini", "OpenArmMiniConfig", "OpenArmMiniConfigBase"]

src/lerobot/teleoperators/openarm_mini/config_openarm_mini.py

@@ -19,12 +19,21 @@ from dataclasses import dataclass
 from ..config import TeleoperatorConfig
 
 
-@TeleoperatorConfig.register_subclass("openarm_mini")
 @dataclass
-class OpenArmMiniConfig(TeleoperatorConfig):
-    """Configuration for OpenArm Mini teleoperator with Feetech motors (dual arms)."""
+class OpenArmMiniConfigBase:
+    """Base configuration for the OpenArm Mini teleoperator (Feetech STS3215, 7DOF + gripper)."""
 
-    port_right: str = "/dev/ttyUSB0"
-    port_left: str = "/dev/ttyUSB1"
+    # Serial port for the Feetech bus (e.g., "/dev/ttyUSB0").
+    port: str
+
+    # Side of the arm: "left" or "right". Controls per-joint direction flips applied
+    # during readout. If `None`, no flipping is applied.
+    side: str | None = None
 
     use_degrees: bool = True
+
+
+@TeleoperatorConfig.register_subclass("openarm_mini")
+@dataclass
+class OpenArmMiniConfig(TeleoperatorConfig, OpenArmMiniConfigBase):
+    pass

src/lerobot/teleoperators/openarm_mini/openarm_mini.py

@@ -31,22 +31,22 @@ from .config_openarm_mini import OpenArmMiniConfig
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-# Motors whose direction is inverted during readout
-RIGHT_MOTORS_TO_FLIP = ["joint_1", "joint_2", "joint_3", "joint_4", "joint_5", "joint_7"]
-LEFT_MOTORS_TO_FLIP = ["joint_1", "joint_3", "joint_4", "joint_5", "joint_6", "joint_7"]
+# Per-side motor direction flips applied during readout.
+SIDE_MOTORS_TO_FLIP: dict[str, list[str]] = {
+    "left": ["joint_1", "joint_3", "joint_4", "joint_5", "joint_6", "joint_7"],
+    "right": ["joint_1", "joint_2", "joint_3", "joint_4", "joint_5", "joint_7"],
+}
 
-# Leader joint 6 maps to follower joint 7 and vice versa
+# Leader joint 6 ↔ follower joint 7 (symmetric — its own inverse).
 JOINT_REMAP = {"joint_6": "joint_7", "joint_7": "joint_6"}
-JOINT_REMAP_REVERSE = {"joint_7": "joint_6", "joint_6": "joint_7"}
 
 GRIPPER_TELEOP_TO_DEGREES = -0.65
 
 
 class OpenArmMini(Teleoperator):
-    """
-    OpenArm Mini Teleoperator with dual Feetech-based arms (8 motors per arm).
+    """OpenArm Mini single-arm teleoperator (Feetech STS3215, 7DOF + gripper).
 
-    Each arm has 7 joints plus a gripper, using Feetech STS3215 servos.
+    For the bimanual setup, see :class:`BiOpenArmMini` which composes two of these.
     """
 
     config_class = OpenArmMiniConfig
@@ -56,9 +56,12 @@ class OpenArmMini(Teleoperator):
         super().__init__(config)
         self.config = config
 
+        if config.side is not None and config.side not in SIDE_MOTORS_TO_FLIP:
+            raise ValueError(f"Invalid side '{config.side}'; expected 'left', 'right', or None.")
+        self._motors_to_flip: list[str] = SIDE_MOTORS_TO_FLIP.get(config.side, []) if config.side else []
+
         norm_mode_body = MotorNormMode.DEGREES
-
-        motors_right = {
+        motors = {
             "joint_1": Motor(1, "sts3215", norm_mode_body),
             "joint_2": Motor(2, "sts3215", norm_mode_body),
             "joint_3": Motor(3, "sts3215", norm_mode_body),
@@ -69,46 +72,15 @@ class OpenArmMini(Teleoperator):
             "gripper": Motor(8, "sts3215", MotorNormMode.RANGE_0_100),
         }
 
-        motors_left = {
-            "joint_1": Motor(1, "sts3215", norm_mode_body),
-            "joint_2": Motor(2, "sts3215", norm_mode_body),
-            "joint_3": Motor(3, "sts3215", norm_mode_body),
-            "joint_4": Motor(4, "sts3215", norm_mode_body),
-            "joint_5": Motor(5, "sts3215", norm_mode_body),
-            "joint_6": Motor(6, "sts3215", norm_mode_body),
-            "joint_7": Motor(7, "sts3215", norm_mode_body),
-            "gripper": Motor(8, "sts3215", MotorNormMode.RANGE_0_100),
-        }
-
-        cal_right = {
-            k.replace("right_", ""): v for k, v in (self.calibration or {}).items() if k.startswith("right_")
-        }
-        cal_left = {
-            k.replace("left_", ""): v for k, v in (self.calibration or {}).items() if k.startswith("left_")
-        }
-
-        self.bus_right = FeetechMotorsBus(
-            port=self.config.port_right,
-            motors=motors_right,
-            calibration=cal_right,
-        )
-
-        self.bus_left = FeetechMotorsBus(
-            port=self.config.port_left,
-            motors=motors_left,
-            calibration=cal_left,
+        self.bus = FeetechMotorsBus(
+            port=self.config.port,
+            motors=motors,
+            calibration=self.calibration,
         )
 
     @property
     def action_features(self) -> dict[str, type]:
-        # Right first, then left — matches the robot (BiOpenArmFollower) ordering
-        # and the dataset feature names recorded during data collection.
-        features: dict[str, type] = {}
-        for motor in self.bus_right.motors:
-            features[f"right_{motor}.pos"] = float
-        for motor in self.bus_left.motors:
-            features[f"left_{motor}.pos"] = float
-        return features
+        return {f"{motor}.pos": float for motor in self.bus.motors}
 
     @property
     def feedback_features(self) -> dict[str, type]:
@@ -116,14 +88,12 @@ class OpenArmMini(Teleoperator):
 
     @property
     def is_connected(self) -> bool:
-        return self.bus_right.is_connected and self.bus_left.is_connected
+        return self.bus.is_connected
 
     @check_if_already_connected
     def connect(self, calibrate: bool = True) -> None:
-        logger.info(f"Connecting right arm on {self.config.port_right}...")
-        self.bus_right.connect()
-        logger.info(f"Connecting left arm on {self.config.port_left}...")
-        self.bus_left.connect()
+        logger.info(f"Connecting arm on {self.config.port}...")
+        self.bus.connect()
 
         if calibrate:
             self.calibrate()
@@ -133,14 +103,14 @@ class OpenArmMini(Teleoperator):
 
     @property
     def is_calibrated(self) -> bool:
-        return self.bus_right.is_calibrated and self.bus_left.is_calibrated
+        return self.bus.is_calibrated
 
     def calibrate(self) -> None:
         """
-        Run calibration procedure for OpenArm Mini.
+        Run calibration procedure for a single OpenArm Mini arm.
 
         1. Disable torque
-        2. Ask user to position arms in hanging position with grippers closed
+        2. Ask user to position arm in hanging position with gripper closed
         3. Set this as zero position via half-turn homing
         4. Interactive gripper calibration (open/close positions)
         5. Save calibration
@@ -152,70 +122,51 @@ class OpenArmMini(Teleoperator):
             )
             if user_input.strip().lower() != "c":
                 logger.info(f"Using existing calibration for {self.id}")
-                cal_right = {
-                    k.replace("right_", ""): v for k, v in self.calibration.items() if k.startswith("right_")
-                }
-                cal_left = {
-                    k.replace("left_", ""): v for k, v in self.calibration.items() if k.startswith("left_")
-                }
-                self.bus_right.write_calibration(cal_right)
-                self.bus_left.write_calibration(cal_left)
+                self.bus.write_calibration(self.calibration)
                 return
 
         logger.info(f"\nRunning calibration for {self}")
 
-        self._calibrate_arm("right", self.bus_right)
-        self._calibrate_arm("left", self.bus_left)
+        self.bus.disable_torque()
 
-        self._save_calibration()
-        print(f"\nCalibration complete and saved to {self.calibration_fpath}")
+        logger.info("Setting Phase to 12 for all motors...")
+        for motor in self.bus.motors:
+            self.bus.write("Phase", motor, 12)
 
-    def _calibrate_arm(self, arm_name: str, bus: FeetechMotorsBus) -> None:
-        """Calibrate a single arm with Feetech motors."""
-        logger.info(f"\n=== Calibrating {arm_name.upper()} arm ===")
-
-        bus.disable_torque()
-
-        logger.info(f"Setting Phase to 12 for all motors in {arm_name.upper()} arm...")
-        for motor in bus.motors:
-            bus.write("Phase", motor, 12)
-
-        for motor in bus.motors:
-            bus.write("Operating_Mode", motor, OperatingMode.POSITION.value)
+        for motor in self.bus.motors:
+            self.bus.write("Operating_Mode", motor, OperatingMode.POSITION.value)
 
         input(
-            f"\nCalibration: Zero Position ({arm_name.upper()} arm)\n"
+            "\nCalibration: Zero Position\n"
             "Position the arm in the following configuration:\n"
             "  - Arm hanging straight down\n"
             "  - Gripper closed\n"
             "Press ENTER when ready..."
         )
 
-        homing_offsets = bus.set_half_turn_homings()
-        logger.info(f"{arm_name.capitalize()} arm zero position set.")
+        homing_offsets = self.bus.set_half_turn_homings()
+        logger.info("Arm zero position set.")
 
-        print(f"\nSetting motor ranges for {arm_name.upper()} arm\n")
+        print("\nSetting motor ranges\n")
 
         if self.calibration is None:
             self.calibration = {}
 
-        motor_resolution = bus.model_resolution_table[list(bus.motors.values())[0].model]
+        motor_resolution = self.bus.model_resolution_table[list(self.bus.motors.values())[0].model]
         max_res = motor_resolution - 1
 
-        for motor_name, motor in bus.motors.items():
-            prefixed_name = f"{arm_name}_{motor_name}"
-
+        for motor_name, motor in self.bus.motors.items():
             if motor_name == "gripper":
                 input(
-                    f"\nGripper Calibration ({arm_name.upper()} arm)\n"
-                    f"Step 1: CLOSE the gripper fully\n"
-                    f"Press ENTER when gripper is closed..."
+                    "\nGripper Calibration\n"
+                    "Step 1: CLOSE the gripper fully\n"
+                    "Press ENTER when gripper is closed..."
                 )
-                closed_pos = bus.read("Present_Position", motor_name, normalize=False)
+                closed_pos = self.bus.read("Present_Position", motor_name, normalize=False)
                 logger.info(f"  Gripper closed position recorded: {closed_pos}")
 
                 input("\nStep 2: OPEN the gripper fully\nPress ENTER when gripper is fully open...")
-                open_pos = bus.read("Present_Position", motor_name, normalize=False)
+                open_pos = self.bus.read("Present_Position", motor_name, normalize=False)
                 logger.info(f"  Gripper open position recorded: {open_pos}")
 
                 if closed_pos < open_pos:
@@ -228,16 +179,16 @@ class OpenArmMini(Teleoperator):
                     drive_mode = 1
 
                 logger.info(
-                    f"  {prefixed_name}: range set to [{range_min}, {range_max}] "
+                    f"  {motor_name}: range set to [{range_min}, {range_max}] "
                     f"(0=closed, 100=open, drive_mode={drive_mode})"
                 )
             else:
                 range_min = 0
                 range_max = max_res
                 drive_mode = 0
-                logger.info(f"  {prefixed_name}: range set to [0, {max_res}] (full motor range)")
+                logger.info(f"  {motor_name}: range set to [0, {max_res}] (full motor range)")
 
-            self.calibration[prefixed_name] = MotorCalibration(
+            self.calibration[motor_name] = MotorCalibration(
                 id=motor.id,
                 drive_mode=drive_mode,
                 homing_offset=homing_offsets[motor_name],
@@ -245,108 +196,68 @@ class OpenArmMini(Teleoperator):
                 range_max=range_max,
             )
 
-        cal_for_bus = {
-            k.replace(f"{arm_name}_", ""): v
-            for k, v in self.calibration.items()
-            if k.startswith(f"{arm_name}_")
-        }
-        bus.write_calibration(cal_for_bus)
+        self.bus.write_calibration(self.calibration)
+        self._save_calibration()
+        print(f"\nCalibration complete and saved to {self.calibration_fpath}")
 
     def configure(self) -> None:
-        self.bus_right.disable_torque()
-        self.bus_right.configure_motors()
-        for motor in self.bus_right.motors:
-            self.bus_right.write("Operating_Mode", motor, OperatingMode.POSITION.value)
-
-        self.bus_left.disable_torque()
-        self.bus_left.configure_motors()
-        for motor in self.bus_left.motors:
-            self.bus_left.write("Operating_Mode", motor, OperatingMode.POSITION.value)
+        self.bus.disable_torque()
+        self.bus.configure_motors()
+        for motor in self.bus.motors:
+            self.bus.write("Operating_Mode", motor, OperatingMode.POSITION.value)
 
     def setup_motors(self) -> None:
-        print("\nSetting up RIGHT arm motors...")
-        for motor in reversed(self.bus_right.motors):
-            input(f"Connect the controller board to the RIGHT '{motor}' motor only and press enter.")
-            self.bus_right.setup_motor(motor)
-            print(f"RIGHT '{motor}' motor id set to {self.bus_right.motors[motor].id}")
-
-        print("\nSetting up LEFT arm motors...")
-        for motor in reversed(self.bus_left.motors):
-            input(f"Connect the controller board to the LEFT '{motor}' motor only and press enter.")
-            self.bus_left.setup_motor(motor)
-            print(f"LEFT '{motor}' motor id set to {self.bus_left.motors[motor].id}")
+        for motor in reversed(self.bus.motors):
+            input(f"Connect the controller board to the '{motor}' motor only and press enter.")
+            self.bus.setup_motor(motor)
+            print(f"'{motor}' motor id set to {self.bus.motors[motor].id}")
 
     @check_if_not_connected
     def get_action(self) -> RobotAction:
-        """Get current action from both arms (read positions from all motors)."""
+        """Get current action (read positions from all motors)."""
         start = time.perf_counter()
 
-        right_positions = self.bus_right.sync_read("Present_Position")
-        left_positions = self.bus_left.sync_read("Present_Position")
+        positions = self.bus.sync_read("Present_Position")
 
-        # Right first, then left — matches the robot (BiOpenArmFollower) ordering
-        # and the dataset feature names recorded during data collection.
         # Joint 6↔7 remap: leader joint_6 → follower joint_7 and vice versa.
+        # Per-side direction flip is applied based on the configured `side`.
         action: dict[str, Any] = {}
-        for motor, val in right_positions.items():
+        for motor, val in positions.items():
             target = JOINT_REMAP.get(motor, motor)
             if motor == "gripper":
                 # Convert gripper from teleop 0-100 to openarms degrees: 0→0°, 100→-65°
-                action[f"right_{target}.pos"] = val * GRIPPER_TELEOP_TO_DEGREES
+                action[f"{target}.pos"] = val * GRIPPER_TELEOP_TO_DEGREES
             else:
-                action[f"right_{target}.pos"] = -val if motor in RIGHT_MOTORS_TO_FLIP else val
-        for motor, val in left_positions.items():
-            target = JOINT_REMAP.get(motor, motor)
-            if motor == "gripper":
-                action[f"left_{target}.pos"] = val * GRIPPER_TELEOP_TO_DEGREES
-            else:
-                action[f"left_{target}.pos"] = -val if motor in LEFT_MOTORS_TO_FLIP else val
+                action[f"{target}.pos"] = -val if motor in self._motors_to_flip else val
 
         dt_ms = (time.perf_counter() - start) * 1e3
         logger.debug(f"{self} read action: {dt_ms:.1f}ms")
         return action
 
     def enable_torque(self) -> None:
-        """Enable torque on both arms for position control."""
-        self.bus_right.enable_torque()
-        self.bus_left.enable_torque()
+        self.bus.enable_torque()
 
     def disable_torque(self) -> None:
-        """Disable torque on both arms for free movement."""
-        self.bus_right.disable_torque()
-        self.bus_left.disable_torque()
+        self.bus.disable_torque()
 
     def write_goal_positions(self, positions: dict[str, float]) -> None:
         """Write goal positions to motors (inverse of get_action flip/gripper/remap logic)."""
-        right_goals: dict[str, float] = {}
-        left_goals: dict[str, float] = {}
-
+        goals: dict[str, float] = {}
         for key, val in positions.items():
             if not key.endswith(".pos"):
                 continue
-            motor_name = key.removesuffix(".pos")
-            if motor_name.startswith("right_"):
-                base = motor_name.removeprefix("right_")
-                # Reverse remap: follower joint_7 → leader joint_6 and vice versa
-                target = JOINT_REMAP_REVERSE.get(base, base)
-                if base == "gripper":
-                    # Convert robot degrees to teleop 0-100: 0°→0, -65°→100
-                    right_goals[target] = val / GRIPPER_TELEOP_TO_DEGREES
-                else:
-                    # Un-flip using the ORIGINAL motor name (target = leader motor)
-                    right_goals[target] = -val if target in RIGHT_MOTORS_TO_FLIP else val
-            elif motor_name.startswith("left_"):
-                base = motor_name.removeprefix("left_")
-                target = JOINT_REMAP_REVERSE.get(base, base)
-                if base == "gripper":
-                    left_goals[target] = val / GRIPPER_TELEOP_TO_DEGREES
-                else:
-                    left_goals[target] = -val if target in LEFT_MOTORS_TO_FLIP else val
+            base = key.removesuffix(".pos")
+            # JOINT_REMAP is symmetric (its own inverse).
+            target = JOINT_REMAP.get(base, base)
+            if base == "gripper":
+                # Convert robot degrees to teleop 0-100: 0°→0, -65°→100
+                goals[target] = val / GRIPPER_TELEOP_TO_DEGREES
+            else:
+                # Un-flip using the ORIGINAL motor name (target = leader motor)
+                goals[target] = -val if target in self._motors_to_flip else val
 
-        if right_goals:
-            self.bus_right.sync_write("Goal_Position", right_goals)
-        if left_goals:
-            self.bus_left.sync_write("Goal_Position", left_goals)
+        if goals:
+            self.bus.sync_write("Goal_Position", goals)
 
     @check_if_not_connected
     def send_feedback(self, feedback: dict[str, float]) -> None:
@@ -354,6 +265,5 @@ class OpenArmMini(Teleoperator):
 
     @check_if_not_connected
     def disconnect(self) -> None:
-        self.bus_right.disconnect()
-        self.bus_left.disconnect()
+        self.bus.disconnect()
         logger.info(f"{self} disconnected.")

src/lerobot/teleoperators/utils.py

@@ -99,14 +99,18 @@ def make_teleoperator_from_config(config: TeleoperatorConfig) -> "Teleoperator":
         from .openarm_mini import OpenArmMini
 
         return OpenArmMini(config)
+    elif config.type == "bi_openarm_mini":
+        from .bi_openarm_mini import BiOpenArmMini
+
+        return BiOpenArmMini(config)
     elif config.type == "rebot_102_leader":
         from .rebot_102_leader import RebotArm102Leader
 
         return RebotArm102Leader(config)
     elif config.type == "bi_rebot_102_leader":
-        from .bi_rebot_102_leader import BiRebotArm102Leader
+        from .bi_rebot_102_leader import BiRebot102Leader
 
-        return BiRebotArm102Leader(config)
+        return BiRebot102Leader(config)
     else:
         try:
             return cast("Teleoperator", make_device_from_device_class(config))

src/lerobot/utils/bimanual.py

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+# Copyright 2026 The HuggingFace Inc. team. All rights reserved.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+from typing import Any
+
+from lerobot.utils.decorators import check_if_already_connected, check_if_not_connected
+
+
+class BimanualMixin:
+    """Lifecycle delegation for bimanual robots and teleoperators.
+
+    Concrete subclasses must populate ``self.left_arm`` and ``self.right_arm`` in
+    their own ``__init__``. They retain ownership of feature dicts and the
+    data-routing methods (``get_action`` / ``send_action`` / ``get_observation`` /
+    ``send_feedback``), which vary per-embodiment.
+
+    Inherit before the ``Robot`` / ``Teleoperator`` base so the mixin's methods
+    take precedence in the MRO::
+
+        class BiFooFollower(BimanualMixin, Robot): ...
+    """
+
+    left_arm: Any
+    right_arm: Any
+
+    @property
+    def is_connected(self) -> bool:
+        return self.left_arm.is_connected and self.right_arm.is_connected
+
+    @property
+    def is_calibrated(self) -> bool:
+        return self.left_arm.is_calibrated and self.right_arm.is_calibrated
+
+    @check_if_already_connected
+    def connect(self, calibrate: bool = True) -> None:
+        self.left_arm.connect(calibrate)
+        self.right_arm.connect(calibrate)
+
+    def calibrate(self) -> None:
+        self.left_arm.calibrate()
+        self.right_arm.calibrate()
+
+    def configure(self) -> None:
+        self.left_arm.configure()
+        self.right_arm.configure()
+
+    @check_if_not_connected
+    def disconnect(self) -> None:
+        self.left_arm.disconnect()
+        self.right_arm.disconnect()

tests/annotations/test_writer.py

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import pytest
 pytest.importorskip("datasets", reason="datasets is required (install lerobot[dataset])")
 pytest.importorskip("pandas", reason="pandas is required (install lerobot[dataset])")
 
+import pandas as pd  # noqa: E402
 import pyarrow.parquet as pq  # noqa: E402
 
 from lerobot.annotations.steerable_pipeline.reader import iter_episodes  # noqa: E402
@@ -344,6 +345,78 @@ def test_annotation_metadata_sync_allows_non_streaming_load(
     assert len(dataset) == 24
 
 
+def _build_packed_dataset(root: Path, episode_lengths: list[int], *, fps: int = 10) -> Path:
+    """Pack several episodes into a single shard (vs build_annotation_dataset's one-per-file),
+    so the writer's rewrite must re-emit one row group per episode instead of collapsing them."""
+    from lerobot.datasets.io_utils import write_tasks
+    from lerobot.utils.io_utils import write_json
+
+    data_dir = root / "data" / "chunk-000"
+    data_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+    episode_index, frame_index, timestamp, task_index, subtask_index = [], [], [], [], []
+    for ep, length in enumerate(episode_lengths):
+        episode_index += [ep] * length
+        frame_index += list(range(length))
+        timestamp += [round(i / fps, 6) for i in range(length)]
+        task_index += [0] * length
+        subtask_index += [0] * length  # legacy column the writer must drop
+    pd.DataFrame(
+        {
+            "episode_index": episode_index,
+            "frame_index": frame_index,
+            "timestamp": timestamp,
+            "task_index": task_index,
+            "subtask_index": subtask_index,
+        }
+    ).to_parquet(data_dir / "file-000.parquet", index=False)
+
+    tasks_df = pd.DataFrame({"task_index": [0]}, index=pd.Index(["do the thing"], name="task"))
+    write_tasks(tasks_df, root)
+    write_json(
+        {"codebase_version": "v3.1", "fps": fps, "features": {}, "total_episodes": len(episode_lengths)},
+        root / "meta" / "info.json",
+    )
+    return root
+
+
+def test_writer_one_row_group_per_episode(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    """Rewriting a packed shard must keep one row group per episode, not collapse
+    every episode into a single giant row group."""
+    episode_lengths = [4, 6, 5]  # unequal lengths, all in one shard
+    root = _build_packed_dataset(tmp_path / "ds", episode_lengths)
+    shard = root / "data" / "chunk-000" / "file-000.parquet"
+    assert pq.ParquetFile(shard).metadata.num_row_groups == 1, "fixture should start collapsed"
+
+    staging_dir = tmp_path / "stage"
+    for ep in range(len(episode_lengths)):
+        _stage_episode(
+            staging_dir,
+            ep,
+            plan=[
+                {
+                    "role": "assistant",
+                    "content": f"subtask for ep {ep}",
+                    "style": "subtask",
+                    "timestamp": 0.0,
+                    "tool_calls": None,
+                }
+            ],
+        )
+
+    records = list(iter_episodes(root))
+    LanguageColumnsWriter().write_all(records, staging_dir, root)
+
+    # One row group per episode, with row counts matching the episode lengths.
+    md = pq.ParquetFile(shard).metadata
+    assert md.num_row_groups == len(episode_lengths)
+    assert [md.row_group(i).num_rows for i in range(md.num_row_groups)] == episode_lengths
+    # Language columns are still present after the per-episode rewrite.
+    table = pq.read_table(shard)
+    assert "language_persistent" in table.column_names
+    assert "language_events" in table.column_names
+
+
 def test_speech_atom_shape_matches_plan_spec() -> None:
     atom = speech_atom(2.5, "I'm cleaning up!")
     assert atom["role"] == "assistant"

tests/datasets/test_aggregate.py

@@ -32,6 +32,26 @@ from lerobot.datasets.lerobot_dataset import LeRobotDataset
 from tests.fixtures.constants import DUMMY_REPO_ID
 
 
+def assert_data_shards_one_row_group_per_episode(root):
+    """Every aggregated DATA shard must have exactly one parquet row group per episode."""
+    import pyarrow.parquet as pq
+
+    shards = sorted((root / "data").rglob("*.parquet"))
+    assert shards, f"no data shards found under {root}/data"
+    n_episodes = 0
+    for shard in shards:
+        pf = pq.ParquetFile(shard)
+        episodes = pf.read(columns=["episode_index"]).column("episode_index").to_pylist()
+        assert pf.metadata.num_row_groups == len(set(episodes)), shard
+        for i in range(pf.metadata.num_row_groups):
+            rg_episodes = set(
+                pf.read_row_group(i, columns=["episode_index"]).column("episode_index").to_pylist()
+            )
+            assert len(rg_episodes) == 1, f"{shard} row group {i} spans episodes {rg_episodes}"
+        n_episodes += len(set(episodes))
+    return n_episodes
+
+
 def assert_episode_and_frame_counts(aggr_ds, expected_episodes, expected_frames):
     """Test that total number of episodes and frames are correctly aggregated."""
     assert aggr_ds.num_episodes == expected_episodes, (
@@ -566,6 +586,41 @@ def assert_image_frames_integrity(aggr_ds, ds_0, ds_1):
             )
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("use_videos", [True, False], ids=["video", "image"])
+def test_aggregate_one_row_group_per_episode(tmp_path, lerobot_dataset_factory, use_videos):
+    """Aggregated DATA shards keep one row group per episode (not one collapsed group).
+
+    Covers both the non-image (``df.to_parquet``) and image
+    (``to_parquet_with_hf_images``) write branches, including the merge-into-
+    existing-file branch via a low file-size threshold that forces packing.
+    """
+    ds_0 = lerobot_dataset_factory(
+        root=tmp_path / "rg_0",
+        repo_id=f"{DUMMY_REPO_ID}_rg_0",
+        total_episodes=3,
+        total_frames=60,
+        use_videos=use_videos,
+    )
+    ds_1 = lerobot_dataset_factory(
+        root=tmp_path / "rg_1",
+        repo_id=f"{DUMMY_REPO_ID}_rg_1",
+        total_episodes=4,
+        total_frames=80,
+        use_videos=use_videos,
+    )
+
+    aggr_root = tmp_path / "rg_aggr"
+    aggregate_datasets(
+        repo_ids=[ds_0.repo_id, ds_1.repo_id],
+        roots=[ds_0.root, ds_1.root],
+        aggr_repo_id=f"{DUMMY_REPO_ID}_rg_aggr",
+        aggr_root=aggr_root,
+    )
+
+    n_episodes = assert_data_shards_one_row_group_per_episode(aggr_root)
+    assert n_episodes == ds_0.num_episodes + ds_1.num_episodes
+
+
 def test_aggregate_image_datasets(tmp_path, lerobot_dataset_factory):
     """Test aggregation of image-based datasets preserves HuggingFace Image schema.
 

tests/processor/test_pipeline.py

@@ -2370,14 +2370,32 @@ def test_aggregate_images_when_use_videos_false():
     out = aggregate_pipeline_dataset_features(
         pipeline=rp,
         initial_features={PipelineFeatureType.ACTION: {}, PipelineFeatureType.OBSERVATION: initial},
-        use_videos=False,  # expect "image" dtype
+        use_videos=False,  # images kept, stored as "image" dtype
         patterns=None,
     )
 
     key = f"{OBS_IMAGES}.back"
     key_front = f"{OBS_IMAGES}.front"
-    assert key not in out
-    assert key_front not in out
+    assert key in out
+    assert key_front in out
+    assert out[key]["dtype"] == "image"
+    assert out[key_front]["dtype"] == "image"
+    assert out[key]["shape"] == initial["back"]
+
+
+def test_aggregate_images_excluded():
+    rp = DataProcessorPipeline([AddObservationStateFeatures(add_front_image=True)])
+    initial = {"back": (480, 640, 3)}
+
+    out = aggregate_pipeline_dataset_features(
+        pipeline=rp,
+        initial_features={PipelineFeatureType.ACTION: {}, PipelineFeatureType.OBSERVATION: initial},
+        exclude_images=True,
+        patterns=None,
+    )
+
+    assert f"{OBS_IMAGES}.back" not in out
+    assert f"{OBS_IMAGES}.front" not in out
 
 
 def test_aggregate_images_when_use_videos_true():

tests/teleoperators/test_rebot_102_leader.py

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
 
 import pytest
 
-from lerobot.teleoperators.bi_rebot_102_leader import BiRebotArm102Leader, BiRebotArm102LeaderConfig
+from lerobot.teleoperators.bi_rebot_102_leader import BiRebot102Leader, BiRebot102LeaderConfig
 from lerobot.teleoperators.rebot_102_leader import (
     RebotArm102Leader,
     RebotArm102LeaderConfig,
@@ -91,11 +91,11 @@ def test_send_feedback_not_implemented(leader):
 
 def test_bimanual_prefixes_features():
     with patch(f"{_MODULE}.require_package", lambda *a, **kw: None):
-        cfg = BiRebotArm102LeaderConfig(
+        cfg = BiRebot102LeaderConfig(
             left_arm_config=RebotArm102LeaderConfig(port="/dev/null0"),
             right_arm_config=RebotArm102LeaderConfig(port="/dev/null1"),
         )
-        teleop = BiRebotArm102Leader(cfg)
+        teleop = BiRebot102Leader(cfg)
     assert any(k.startswith("left_") for k in teleop.action_features)
     assert any(k.startswith("right_") for k in teleop.action_features)
     assert "left_gripper.pos" in teleop.action_features