Industry
AI-Boosted Video Annotation: Assessing the Process Enhancement
Gutiérrez, Juan, Mora, Ángel, Regodón, Pablo, Rodriguez, Silvia, Blanco, José Luis
We explore the enhancement of Human-in-the-Loop video annotation by integrating automatic capabilities to ease the task for annotators and assess their performance. The research delves into the practical implications of the annotation processes, the integration of AI components, and the evaluation of its outcomes. We analyze their impact on efficiency, accuracy, and overall annotation quality. Focusing on the Human-in-the-Loop for video annotation tasks, we implemented a single-iteration scheme using Label Studio and AI-powered zero-shot pre-annotations. Using this framework, we designed a test based on the annotation of the UCF-Crime dataset to discriminate between normal and abnormal activities in video footage. Our results evidence how automatic AI-based pre-annotation can streamline the video annotation workflow, empowering human annotators and optimizing the overall pipeline. Using the pre-annotated data, we observed a 35% reduction in the annotation time for 70% of the annotators with similar quality annotations, compared to the traditional manual annotation task. Results are consistent with asset duration and complexity. We also observed that while annotators rapidly learned to use the tool, the produced annotations are more coherent among annotators and better match the natural clustering of the video frames.
EventFormer: A Node-graph Hierarchical Attention Transformer for Action-centric Video Event Prediction
Su, Qile, Zhu, Shoutai, Zhang, Shuai, Liang, Baoyu, Tong, Chao
Script event induction, which aims to predict the subsequent event based on the context, is a challenging task in NLP, achieving remarkable success in practical applications. However, human events are mostly recorded and presented in the form of videos rather than scripts, yet there is a lack of related research in the realm of vision. To address this problem, we introduce AVEP (Action-centric Video Event Prediction), a task that distinguishes itself from existing video prediction tasks through its incorporation of more complex logic and richer semantic information. We present a large structured dataset, which consists of about $35K$ annotated videos and more than $178K$ video clips of event, built upon existing video event datasets to support this task. The dataset offers more fine-grained annotations, where the atomic unit is represented as a multimodal event argument node, providing better structured representations of video events. Due to the complexity of event structures, traditional visual models that take patches or frames as input are not well-suited for AVEP. We propose EventFormer, a node-graph hierarchical attention based video event prediction model, which can capture both the relationships between events and their arguments and the coreferencial relationships between arguments. We conducted experiments using several SOTA video prediction models as well as LVLMs on AVEP, demonstrating both the complexity of the task and the value of the dataset. Our approach outperforms all these video prediction models. We will release the dataset and code for replicating the experiments and annotations.
Noise Aggregation Analysis Driven by Small-Noise Injection: Efficient Membership Inference for Diffusion Models
Li, Guo, Yu, Yuyang, Xu, Xuemiao
Diffusion models have demonstrated powerful performance in generating high-quality images. A typical example is text-to-image generator like Stable Diffusion. However, their widespread use also poses potential privacy risks. A key concern is membership inference attacks, which attempt to determine whether a particular data sample was used in the model training process. We propose an efficient membership inference attack method against diffusion models. This method is based on the injection of slight noise and the evaluation of the aggregation degree of the noise distribution. The intuition is that the noise prediction patterns of diffusion models for training set samples and non-training set samples exhibit distinguishable differences.Specifically, we suppose that member images exhibit higher aggregation of predicted noise around a certain time step of the diffusion process. In contrast, the predicted noises of non-member images exhibit a more discrete characteristic around the certain time step. Compared with other existing methods, our proposed method requires fewer visits to the target diffusion model. We inject slight noise into the image under test and then determine its membership by analyzing the aggregation degree of the noise distribution predicted by the model. Empirical findings indicate that our method achieves superior performance across multiple datasets. At the same time, our method can also show better attack effects in ASR and AUC when facing large-scale text-to-image diffusion models, proving the scalability of our method.
EdgeSync: Accelerating Edge-Model Updates for Data Drift through Adaptive Continuous Learning
Donga, Runchu, Zhao, Peng, Wang, Guiqin, Qi, Nan, Lin, Jie
EdgeSync: Accelerating Edge-Model Updates for Data Drift through Adaptive Continuous Learning Runchu Dong, Peng Zhao, Guiqin Wang, Nan Qi, Jie Lin A more efficient edge-model updating approach that automatically and continuously adapts models to the scene with data drift. A novel method for filtering video streaming samples that integrates timeliness and adaptability to eliminate unnecessary samples. A continuous training manager that optimizes the training schedule and duration using both labeled and computed features. Abstract Real-time video analytics systems typically deploy lightweight models on edge devices to reduce latency. However, the distribution of data features may change over time due to various factors such as changing lighting and weather conditions, leading to decreased model accuracy. Recent frameworks try to address this issue by leveraging remote servers to continuously train and adapt lightweight edge models using more complex models in the cloud. Despite these advancements, existing methods face two key challenges: first, the retraining process is compute-intensive, causing significant delays in model updates; second, the new model may not align well with the evolving data distribution of the current video stream. To address these challenges, we introduce EdgeSync, an efficient edge-model updating approach that enhances sample filtering by incorporating timeliness and inference results, thus ensuring training samples are more relevant to the current video content while reducing update delays. Additionally, EdgeSync features a dynamic training management module that optimizes the timing and sequencing of model updates to improve their timeliness. Evaluations on diverse and complex real-world datasets demonstrate that EdgeSync improves accuracy by approximately 3.4% compared to existing methods and by about 10% compared to traditional approaches. Introduction Real-time video analytics has significant potential across a range of applications, including augmented reality, video surveillance, and traffic detection [1]. Recent advancements in deep neural networks (DNNs) have significantly improved the performance of video analysis, with some models even surpassing human accuracy in certain scenarios [2, 3, 4].
Bridging Accuracy and Interpretability: Deep Learning with XAI for Breast Cancer Detection
Chhetri, Bishal, Kumar, B. V. Rathish
In this study, we present an interpretable deep learning framework for the early detection of breast cancer using quantitative features extracted from digitized fine needle aspirate (FNA) images of breast masses. Our deep neural network, using ReLU activations, the Adam optimizer, and a binary cross-entropy loss, delivers state-of-the-art classification performance, achieving an accuracy of 0.992, precision of 1.000, recall of 0.977, and an F1 score of 0.988. These results substantially exceed the benchmarks reported in the literature. We evaluated the model under identical protocols against a suite of well-established algorithms (logistic regression, decision trees, random forests, stochastic gradient descent, K-nearest neighbors, and XGBoost) and found the deep model consistently superior on the same metrics. Recognizing that high predictive accuracy alone is insufficient for clinical adoption due to the black-box nature of deep learning models, we incorporated model-agnostic Explainable AI techniques such as SHAP and LIME to produce feature-level attributions and human-readable visualizations. These explanations quantify the contribution of each feature to individual predictions, support error analysis, and increase clinician trust, thus bridging the gap between performance and interpretability for real-world clinical use. The concave points feature of the cell nuclei is found to be the most influential feature positively impacting the classification task. This insight can be very helpful in improving the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer by highlighting the key characteristics of breast tumor.
Improving the performance of AI-powered Affordable Robotics for Assistive Tasks
By 2050, the global demand for assistive care is expected to reach 3.5 billion people, far outpacing the availability of human caregivers. Existing robotic solutions remain expensive and require technical expertise, limiting accessibility. This work introduces a low-cost robotic arm for assistive tasks such as feeding, cleaning spills, and fetching medicine. The system uses imitation learning from demonstration videos, requiring no task-specific programming or manual labeling. The robot consists of six servo motors, dual cameras, and 3D-printed grippers. Data collection via teleoperation with a leader arm yielded 50,000 video frames across the three tasks. A novel Phased Action Chunking Transformer (PACT) captures temporal dependencies and segments motion dynamics, while a Temporal Ensemble (TE) method refines trajectories to improve accuracy and smoothness. Evaluated across five model sizes and four architectures, with ten hours of real-world testing, the system achieved over 90% task accuracy, up to 40% higher than baselines. PACT enabled a 5x model size reduction while maintaining 75% accuracy. Saliency analysis showed reliance on key visual cues, and phase token gradients peaked at critical trajectory moments, indicating effective temporal reasoning. Future work will explore bimanual manipulation and mobility for expanded assistive capabilities.
Avi: Action from Volumetric Inference
We propose Avi, a novel 3D Vision-Language-Action (VLA) architecture that reframes robotic action generation as a problem of 3D perception and spatial reasoning, rather than low-level policy learning. While existing VLA models primarily operate on 2D visual inputs and are trained end-to-end on task-specific action policies, Avi leverages 3D point clouds and language-grounded scene understanding to compute actions through classical geometric transformations. Most notably, Avi does not train on previous action tokens, rather, we build upon a 3D Multi-modal Large Language Model (MLLM) to generate the next point cloud and explicitly calculate the actions through classical transformations. This approach enables generalizable behaviors that are robust to occlusions, camera pose variations, and changes in viewpoint. By treating the robotic decision-making process as a structured reasoning task over 3D representations, Avi bridges the gap between high-level language instructions and low-level actuation without requiring opaque policy learning. Our preliminary results highlight the potential of 3D vision-language reasoning as a foundation for scalable, robust robotic systems. Check it out at https://avi-3drobot.github.io/.
Next-Generation LLM for UAV: From Natural Language to Autonomous Flight
Yuan, Liangqi, Deng, Chuhao, Han, Dong-Jun, Hwang, Inseok, Brunswicker, Sabine, Brinton, Christopher G.
Abstract--With the rapid advancement of Large Language Models (LLMs), their capabilities in various automation domains, particularly Unmanned Aerial V ehicle (UA V) operations, have garnered increasing attention. Current research remains predominantly constrained to small-scale UA V applications, with most studies focusing on isolated components such as path planning for toy drones, while lacking comprehensive investigation of medium-and long-range UA V systems in real-world operational contexts. Larger UA V platforms introduce distinct challenges, including stringent requirements for airport-based take-off and landing procedures, adherence to complex regulatory frameworks, and specialized operational capabilities with elevated mission expectations. LV system processes natural language instructions to orchestrate short-, medium-, and long-range UA V missions through five key technical components: (i) LLM-as-Parser for instruction interpretation, (ii) Route Planner for Points of Interest (POI) determination, (iii) Path Planner for waypoint generation, (iv) Control Platform for executable trajectory implementation, and (v) UA V monitoring. We demonstrate the system's feasibility through three representative use cases spanning different operational scales: multi-UA V patrol, multi-POI delivery, and multi-hop relocation. Beyond the current implementation, we establish a five-level automation taxonomy that charts the evolution from current LLM-as-Parser capabilities (Level 1) to fully autonomous LLMas-Autopilot systems (Level 5), identifying technical prerequisites and research challenges at each stage. The rise of Large Language Models (LLMs) has transformed numerous domains, such as mobile services, vehicles, and robotics [1]-[3]. These fields have become increasingly intelligent and user-friendly through LLM integration, enabling command and control through natural language. Equal contribution L. Y uan and C. G. Brinton are with the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. C. Deng and I. Hwang are with the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. Han is with the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Y onsei University, Seoul, South Korea. E-mail: djh@yonsei.ac.kr S. Brunswicker is with the Polytechnic Institute, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. LLMs fulfill diverse roles within these systems. LLM-as-Router can orchestrate task allocation and model selection for human pilots, LLM-as-Agent can execute actions on behalf of humans, and LLM-as-Judge can conduct evaluations in place of human judgment.
A phase-aware AI car-following model for electric vehicles with adaptive cruise control: Development and validation using real-world data
Liu, Yuhui, Wang, Shian, Panicker, Ansel, Embry, Kate, Asanova, Ayana, Li, Tianyi
Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs) exhibit distinct vehicle dynamics. EVs provide rapid acceleration, with electric motors producing peak power across a wider speed range, and achieve swift deceleration through regenerative braking. While existing microscopic models effectively capture the driving behavior of ICE vehicles, a modeling framework that accurately describes the unique car-following dynamics of EVs is lacking. Developing such a model is essential given the increasing presence of EVs in traffic, yet creating an easy-to-use and accurate analytical model remains challenging. To address these gaps, this study develops and validates a Phase-Aware AI (PAAI) car-following model specifically for EVs. The proposed model enhances traditional physics-based frameworks with an AI component that recognizes and adapts to different driving phases, such as rapid acceleration and regenerative braking. Using real-world trajectory data from vehicles equipped with adaptive cruise control (ACC), we conduct comprehensive simulations to validate the model's performance. The numerical results demonstrate that the PAAI model significantly improves prediction accuracy over traditional car-following models, providing an effective tool for accurately representing EV behavior in traffic simulations.
Force-Displacement Profiling for Robot-Assisted Deployment of a Left Atrial Appendage Occluder Using FBG-EM Distal Sensing
Regazzo, Giovanni Battista, Beckers, Wim-Alexander, Ha, Xuan Thao, Ourak, Mouloud, Vlekken, Johan, Poorten, Emmanuel Vander
Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of thromboembolic events due to impaired function of the left atrial appendage (LAA). Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is a minimally invasive intervention designed to reduce stroke risk by sealing the LAA with an expandable occluder device. Current deployment relies on manual catheter control and imaging modalities like fluoroscopy and transesophageal echocardiography, which carry limitations including radiation exposure and limited positioning precision. In this study, we leverage a previously developed force-sensing delivery sheath integrating fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) at the interface between the catheter and the occluder. Combined with electromagnetic (EM) tracking, this setup enables real-time measurement of interaction forces and catheter tip position during robot-assisted LAAC deployment in an anatomical phantom. We present a novel force-displacement profiling method that characterizes occluder deployment dynamics and identifies key procedural steps without relying on ionizing radiation. The force profiles reveal low-magnitude interaction forces, suggesting minimal mechanical stress on the surrounding anatomy. This approach shows promise in providing clinicians with enhanced intraoperative feedback, improving deployment outcome. Future work will focus on automating deployment steps classification and validating the sensing strategy in dynamic, realistic environments.