Optical Inspection
Optical inspection for defect detection using Siamese networks. Compares image pairs to detect manufacturing defects, anomalies, or quality issues.
Set train.pretrained_model_path for pretrained Siamese weights.
For TAO Deploy TensorRT actions (gen_trt_engine, TensorRT evaluate, and TensorRT inference), read references/tao-deploy-optical-inspection.md first. Deploy spec templates live in this skill's references/ folder with the spec_template_deploy_*.yaml prefix.
Dataclass Schemas
Generated TAO Core schemas are packaged in schemas/<action>.schema.json, with schemas/manifest.json listing available actions. Each generated schema also emits references/spec_template_<action>.yaml from the schema top-level default field. AutoML enablement is declared at the model layer in references/skill_info.yaml via automl_enabled. Runnable AutoML still requires schemas/train.schema.json and references/spec_template_train.yaml to exist and parse. Use the packaged train schema for automl_default_parameters, automl_disabled_parameters, defaults, min/max bounds, enums, option weights, math conditions, dependencies, and popular parameters. Do not expect ~/tao-core at runtime; maintainers regenerate schemas/templates before packaging the skill bank.
Train Action Policy
This model is AutoML-enabled at the model layer. Before handling any train-stage request, read references/skill_info.yaml and resolve the run override from either an explicit automl_policy value or the user's workflow request. Treat phrases like "turn off AutoML", "disable AutoML", "no HPO", or "plain training" as automl_policy: off for this run only; otherwise default to auto. When automl_policy: auto, automl_enabled: true, and both schemas/train.schema.json and references/spec_template_train.yaml are packaged, route the train action through tao-skill-bank:tao-run-automl by default with this model's skill_dir. Preserve workflow/application overrides for datasets, specs, output directories, GPU/platform settings, parent checkpoints, and automl_policy. Use direct model training only when automl_policy: off or the packaged train schema/template is missing; in the missing-schema case, report that AutoML is enabled but not runnable for this model until schemas are generated.
Non-train actions such as evaluate, inference, export, and deploy flows stay in this model skill. The per-run automl_policy override does not change model metadata.
Training Requirements
- Dataset type: optical_inspection
- Formats: default
- Monitoring metric: val_acc
Per-Action Dataset Requirements
| Action | Spec Key | Source | Files | List? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| evaluate | dataset.test_dataset.images_dir | eval_dataset | images.tar.gz | No |
| evaluate | dataset.test_dataset.csv_path | eval_dataset | dataset.csv | No |
| gen_trt_engine | gen_trt_engine.tensorrt.calibration.cal_image_dir | calibration_dataset | images.tar.gz | Yes |
| inference | dataset.infer_dataset.images_dir | inference_dataset | images.tar.gz | No |
| inference | dataset.infer_dataset.csv_path | inference_dataset | dataset.csv | No |
| train | dataset.train_dataset.images_dir | train_datasets | images.tar.gz | No |
| train | dataset.train_dataset.csv_path | train_datasets | dataset.csv | No |
| train | dataset.validation_dataset.images_dir | eval_dataset | images.tar.gz | No |
| train | dataset.validation_dataset.csv_path | eval_dataset | dataset.csv | No |
| train | dataset.test_dataset.images_dir | eval_dataset | images.tar.gz | No |
| train | dataset.test_dataset.csv_path | eval_dataset | dataset.csv | No |
Typical Spec Overrides
Data source overrides are mandatory for every action — the agent MUST construct data source paths from the Per-Action Dataset Requirements table above and include them in spec_overrides.
S3_TRAIN = "s3://bucket/data/train"
S3_EVAL = "s3://bucket/data/eval"
train (mandatory data sources):
{
"train.num_epochs": 30,
"train.checkpoint_interval": 10,
"train.validation_interval": 10,
"train.num_gpus": 1,
"dataset.train_dataset.images_dir": f"{S3_TRAIN}/images.tar.gz",
"dataset.train_dataset.csv_path": f"{S3_TRAIN}/dataset.csv",
"dataset.validation_dataset.images_dir": f"{S3_EVAL}/images.tar.gz",
"dataset.validation_dataset.csv_path": f"{S3_EVAL}/dataset.csv",
"dataset.test_dataset.images_dir": f"{S3_EVAL}/images.tar.gz",
"dataset.test_dataset.csv_path": f"{S3_EVAL}/dataset.csv",
}
gen_trt_engine (mandatory data sources):
{
"gen_trt_engine.tensorrt.data_type": "fp16",
"gen_trt_engine.tensorrt.calibration.cal_image_dir": [f"{S3_TRAIN}/images.tar.gz"],
}
evaluate (mandatory data sources):
{
"dataset.test_dataset.images_dir": f"{S3_EVAL}/images.tar.gz",
"dataset.test_dataset.csv_path": f"{S3_EVAL}/dataset.csv",
}
inference (mandatory data sources):
{
"dataset.infer_dataset.images_dir": f"{S3_EVAL}/images.tar.gz",
"dataset.infer_dataset.csv_path": f"{S3_EVAL}/dataset.csv",
}
Eval Dataset
Optional. Eval dataset uses same format (images + CSV).
Important Parameters
- model.model_type: Siamese variant. Options include Siamese, Siamese_3.
- model.model_backbone: Default custom.
- model.embedding_vectors: Number of embedding dimensions. Default 5.
- train.optim.lr: Learning rate. Default 5e-4.
- dataset.num_input: Number of input images per comparison.
- dataset.input_map: Mapping of input channels / image pairs.
Multi-GPU / Multi-Node
Launch method: Lightning-managed (single python process, Lightning spawns workers).
| Spec Key | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
train.num_gpus | Number of GPUs | 1 |
train.gpu_ids | GPU device indices | [0] |
- Strategy:
auto(Lightning picks best strategy automatically) - No explicit
num_nodesordistributed_strategyconfig — single-node only - Lightweight Siamese network, single GPU typically sufficient
Hardware
Minimum 1 GPU(s), recommended 1 GPU(s). 8GB+ VRAM per GPU. Siamese networks for inspection are lightweight. Single GPU sufficient.
Error Patterns
CSV format error: Ensure dataset.csv has the correct column format for image pair paths and labels.
Spec Param / Parent Model Inference
Model-specific inference mappings belong in this MD file, not in config.json. Generated runners should read this section and apply the mappings with SDK helpers before create_job(). This mirrors the old microservices infer_params.py flow.
Inference mappings from TAO Core optical_inspection.config.json:
| Action | Spec Field | Inference Function | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| evaluate | encryption_key | key | encryption key |
| evaluate | evaluate.checkpoint | parent_model | model file inferred from the parent job results folder |
| evaluate | results_dir | output_dir | current job results directory |
| export | encryption_key | key | encryption key |
| export | export.checkpoint | parent_model | model file inferred from the parent job results folder |
| export | export.onnx_file | create_onnx_file | output ONNX path |
| export | results_dir | output_dir | current job results directory |
| gen_trt_engine | encryption_key | key | encryption key |
| gen_trt_engine | gen_trt_engine.onnx_file | parent_model | model file inferred from the parent job results folder |
| gen_trt_engine | gen_trt_engine.tensorrt.calibration.cal_cache_file | create_cal_cache | calibration cache path |
| gen_trt_engine | gen_trt_engine.trt_engine | create_engine_file | output TensorRT engine path |
| gen_trt_engine | results_dir | output_dir | current job results directory |
| inference | encryption_key | key | encryption key |
| inference | inference.checkpoint | parent_model | model file inferred from the parent job results folder |
| inference | inference.trt_engine | parent_model | model file inferred from the parent job results folder |
| inference | results_dir | output_dir | current job results directory |
| train | encryption_key | key | encryption key |
| train | results_dir | output_dir | current job results directory |
| train | train.pretrained_model_path | ptm_if_no_resume_model | PTM when no resume checkpoint exists |
| train | train.resume_training_checkpoint_path | resume_model | model file inferred from the current job results folder |
For parent_model or parent_model_folder, pass the upstream train/export/AutoML child job id as parent_job_id. The SDK lists the parent result folder, filters checkpoint artifacts, and returns the selected model file or folder. Do not add these mappings back to config.json and do not patch generated runner scripts to guess checkpoint paths.
Deployment
- tao-deploy-optical-inspection — Optical Inspection deploy workflow for TensorRT engine generation, TensorRT evaluation, and TensorRT inference using TAO Deploy.