| name | tao-run-deft-cr-its-mining |
| description | Run the mining-based DEFT improvement workflow for ITS Cosmos-Reason binary video questions, focused on the non-reasoning classification/evaluation path. Use when the user asks for a DEFT CR ITS mining workflow, traffic-camera Cosmos Reason improvement loop, collision-identification workflow with data mining, or iterative Cosmos-RL refinement driven by gap analysis. |
| license | Apache-2.0 |
| compatibility | Requires docker + nvidia-container-toolkit. Workflows declare additional requirements. |
| metadata | {"author":"NVIDIA Corporation","version":"0.1.0"} |
| allowed-tools | Read Bash Write Task |
| tags | ["application","workflow","deft","its","cosmos-reason","cosmos-rl","mining"] |
Skill: TAO Run DEFT CR ITS Mining
Bundled Resources
Resolve DEFT_SKILL_ROOT to the absolute directory containing this installed SKILL.md. The agent or plugin runtime resolves this path; it is not a user input. Run bundled helpers with run_script("scripts/<name>.py", ...) when the runtime provides it. Otherwise invoke them directly with python3 "$DEFT_SKILL_ROOT/scripts/<name>.py". Never require a tao-skills-external checkout or change the user's working directory to a repository root.
This workflow invokes tao-finetune-cosmos-reason, tao-finetune-cosmos-embed, tao-analyze-gaps-vlm-bcq, tao-mine-nearest-neighbors, and the selected platform skill by registered skill name. Those skills own their commands, credentials, and bundled assets. This workflow overrides only the Cosmos Reason runtime image: resolve images.tao_toolkit.deft_cosmos_reason from versions.yaml and pass that image as the planner image_tag and submitted action image for every Cosmos Reason train and evaluate launch instead of the image declared by tao-finetune-cosmos-reason. This workflow owns only the helpers under its own scripts/ and assets/ directories.
User Inputs (DEFT Workspace and Workflow Configuration Yaml)
The user should provide a DEFT workspace absolute path that will be used for the entire run. This path should not be /workspace because that conflicts with the Cosmos Reason skills.
The layout of the DEFT workspace should be as follows:
<deft_workspace>/
├── data/
├── hf_cache/
├── model/
├── specs/
└── results/
| Path | Purpose |
|---|
<deft_workspace>/data/ | User-provided KPI and training datasets, including LLaVA annotations and media directories. |
<deft_workspace>/hf_cache/ | Persistent Hugging Face cache used when workflow steps download or reuse HF models. |
<deft_workspace>/model/ | Local model/checkpoint inputs for the workflow, including the baseline Cosmos Reason checkpoint and any user-provided Cosmos Embed checkpoint. |
<deft_workspace>/specs/ | User-provided configuration files, including templates for Cosmos Reason train and evaluate, Cosmos Embed inference, and TAO Data Services mining. |
<deft_workspace>/results/ | All workflow-generated run artifacts, including state, logs, baseline evaluation, Cosmos Embed outputs, mining outputs, and iteration directories. |
Each workflow run writes under a run-specific directory inside <deft_workspace>/results/. If run.name is set in workflow.yaml, that exact value is used as the directory name; otherwise the workflow creates a timestamped directory. For example, run.name: deft_cr_its_mining_test writes baseline evaluation under <deft_workspace>/results/deft_cr_its_mining_test/baseline/evaluate.
The run directory layout is:
<deft_workspace>/results/<run_name_or_timestamp>/
├── workflow.yaml
├── deft_state.json
├── loop_log.jsonl
├── bcq_accuracy_report.md
├── bcq_accuracy_summary.json
├── baseline/
│ └── evaluate/
│ └── bcq_accuracy_metrics.json
├── cosmos_embed_output/
│ ├── kpi/
│ └── train/
├── embedding_parquets/
│ ├── kpi/
│ │ └── embeddings.parquet
│ └── train/
│ └── embeddings.parquet
├── iter_1/
│ └── evaluate/
│ └── bcq_accuracy_metrics.json
├── iter_2/
└── ...
workflow.yaml is a copy of the high-level config that produced the run. loop_log.jsonl is the append-only event source for resume, and every stage-log append atomically refreshes deft_state.json as its current snapshot. baseline/evaluate/ stores the initial evaluation of the baseline model. Each completed evaluation also stores bcq_accuracy_metrics.json. The run-level bcq_accuracy_report.md and bcq_accuracy_summary.json compare the baseline with every completed iteration. cosmos_embed_output/kpi/ and cosmos_embed_output/train/ store raw Cosmos Embed preparation and inference outputs. embedding_parquets/kpi/ and embedding_parquets/train/ store the fixed mining-ready parquet artifacts computed once from the KPI and train datasets. Each iter_<N>/ directory stores the artifacts for one DEFT improvement iteration.
Workflow Configuration
There should be a file called <deft_workspace>/specs/workflow.yaml, which will be the high-level workflow config for the full DEFT run:
run:
name: null
max_iterations: 1
kpi_dataset:
annotations_path: /abs/path/to/deft_workspace/data/kpi/annotations.json
media_dir: /abs/path/to/deft_workspace/data/kpi/media
train_dataset:
annotations_path: /abs/path/to/deft_workspace/data/train/annotations.json
media_dir: /abs/path/to/deft_workspace/data/train/media
cosmos_reason:
baseline_model_path: /abs/path/to/deft_workspace/model/baseline
base_evaluate_toml: /abs/path/to/deft_workspace/specs/cr_base_evaluate.toml
base_train_toml: /abs/path/to/deft_workspace/specs/cr_base_train.toml
continual_model: false
mining:
embeddings_spec_template: /abs/path/to/deft_workspace/specs/cosmos_embed_inference_template.yaml
embeddings_modality: both
cosmos_embed_checkpoint_path: null
embedding_parquets:
kpi: null
train: null
mining_spec_template: /abs/path/to/deft_workspace/specs/mining_spec_template.yaml
mine_unique_only: true
run, kpi_dataset, train_dataset, cosmos_reason, and mining are required. All configured paths should be absolute and inside <deft_workspace>. cosmos_reason.continual_model is optional and defaults to false; when false, every iteration trains from the baseline checkpoint. mining.embeddings_modality selects KPI target modalities; train/source embeddings always contain both text and video. mining.mine_unique_only is optional and defaults to true; when true, previously mined train/source filepaths are filtered out before later mining runs.
All workflow outputs go under <deft_workspace>/results; do not add a separate output root to workflow.yaml. run.name is not just a display label: if it is set, use <deft_workspace>/results/<run.name> as the run directory and explain that all stage outputs, including baseline/, cosmos_embed_output/, embedding_parquets/, and iter_<N>/, are nested under that run directory. If run.name is null, create <deft_workspace>/results/run_<YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS> and record the resolved run directory in deft_state.json so resume never recomputes it.
Before running any workflow stage, validate the config:
python3 "$DEFT_SKILL_ROOT/scripts/verify_workflow_yaml.py" \
--workspace "$WORKSPACE" \
--workflow-yaml "$WORKSPACE/specs/workflow.yaml"
The validator checks that required fields are present, configured paths are absolute and inside <deft_workspace>, embeddings_modality is text, video, or both, every configured path exists, and the KPI/train LLaVA annotations are compatible with their configured media_dir. Every annotation must have a unique non-empty id; its video field must resolve to an existing file against that dataset's media_dir. The Cosmos Embed template must declare a positive inference.num_gpus; preflight prints that count so the agent can verify available hardware before launch. mining.cosmos_embed_checkpoint_path may be null, an absolute local path inside <deft_workspace>, or a Hugging Face model id such as nvidia/Cosmos-Embed1-224p or hf_model://nvidia/Cosmos-Embed1-224p. Optional mining.embedding_parquets.kpi and .train values must be absolute existing mining-ready Parquet files inside the workspace with filepath, embedding, and modality columns. The KPI file must contain exactly the selected modality or modalities; the train file must contain both text and video. The removed text_embeddings and video_embeddings fields are invalid. This validates the workflow input contract; each stage still follows the mount behavior of the underlying skill, container, or platform runner.
If the user does not provide custom Cosmos Reason or Cosmos Embed templates, copy $DEFT_SKILL_ROOT/assets/cr_base_evaluate.toml, $DEFT_SKILL_ROOT/assets/cr_base_train.toml, and $DEFT_SKILL_ROOT/assets/default_cosmos_embed_inference.yaml into <deft_workspace>/specs/. Use tao-mine-nearest-neighbors to copy its bundled assets/default_nearest_neighbors.yaml when the user does not provide a mining template. Point workflow.yaml at the workspace copies. The bundled Cosmos Embed template requests 8 GPUs; do not launch until preflight confirms the selected platform can satisfy that request, or the user approves a modified template.
Initialize a run once after validation:
python3 "$DEFT_SKILL_ROOT/scripts/initialize_workflow.py" \
--workspace "$WORKSPACE" \
--workflow-yaml "$WORKSPACE/specs/workflow.yaml"
Use the printed run_dir as RUN_DIR for every later command. If run.name is null, never ask another preparation script to derive the run directory again; pass --run-dir "$RUN_DIR" so all stages write into the initialized run.
Do not use --force for an ordinary resume. It rewrites the state/config snapshot but intentionally leaves loop_log.jsonl and all stage artifacts in place. Use it only to repair the snapshot for the same run; choose a new run.name for a clean restart. Before resuming, run $DEFT_SKILL_ROOT/scripts/resume_position.py --run-dir "$RUN_DIR" and continue from the reported stage.
Baseline Evaluation
Run baseline evaluation once before the DEFT iteration loop. This evaluates cosmos_reason.baseline_model_path on the KPI dataset and produces the first results.json used by gap analysis. Immediately run scripts/compute_bcq_accuracy_metrics.py on that file and store baseline/evaluate/bcq_accuracy_metrics.json. Its parser recognizes yes and no in short or free-form responses, including capitalization and punctuation. It reports false positives, false negatives, accuracy, balanced accuracy, and unparseable predictions. Use references/mining-loop.md for the exact commands, completion check, and logging rule.
Initialize Mining Embeddings
Initialize mining embeddings once before the DEFT iteration loop. The KPI and train datasets are fixed for the run, so their Cosmos Embed outputs are reusable across all iterations.
Use scripts/prepare_cosmos_embed_inference.py to prepare the Cosmos Embed inference specs from workflow.yaml. The KPI dataset requires the modality or modalities selected by mining.embeddings_modality; the train dataset always requires text and video. If the user provides a complete dataset Parquet under mining.embedding_parquets.kpi or .train, the preparation script stages it at $RUN_DIR/embedding_parquets/<dataset>/embeddings.parquet and generates no inference specs for that dataset. While staging, it remaps text embedding identifiers from the source run's question files to the current run's lookup by question content; embeddings and video identifiers are preserved. If the dataset value is null or omitted, the script generates every required modality spec for that dataset. Partial per-modality reuse is not supported. If mining.cosmos_embed_checkpoint_path is an absolute local path, the script uses it for generated specs. If it is a remote Hugging Face model id, with or without the hf_model:// prefix, the script downloads or reuses it under <deft_workspace>/hf_cache and writes the local downloaded checkpoint path into the generated inference specs. If the field is null, the script uses nvidia/Cosmos-Embed1-224p.
The script downloads remote HF checkpoints before Cosmos Embed runs because Cosmos Embed startup can race when inference.num_gpus > 1 and multiple workers try to download the same model at once. If both combined dataset Parquets are provided, the preparation script does not need the checkpoint and does not download it.
Use scripts/prepare_cosmos_embed_inference.py once. It prepares both the KPI dataset and the train dataset:
python3 "$DEFT_SKILL_ROOT/scripts/prepare_cosmos_embed_inference.py" \
--workspace "$WORKSPACE" \
--workflow-yaml "$WORKSPACE/specs/workflow.yaml" \
--run-dir "$RUN_DIR"
The preparation script writes only the missing embedding specs under the initialized RUN_DIR. Initialization owns the $RUN_DIR/workflow.yaml snapshot; this stage does not derive a new run or overwrite that snapshot.
For each dataset without a supplied combined Parquet, the preparation script writes all required modality-specific inference specs under cosmos_embed_output/<dataset>/specs/, creates raw Cosmos Embed result directories, stages text questions as files for stable joins, and writes lookup.parquet. After inference, the conversion script gathers those separate modality outputs into one mining-facing file per dataset. Each row contains filepath, embedding, and modality:
$RUN_DIR/embedding_parquets/kpi/embeddings.parquet
$RUN_DIR/embedding_parquets/train/embeddings.parquet
The KPI parquet contains only the selected modality or modalities. The train parquet always contains both text and video rows.
Run Cosmos Embed Inference
Use the tao-finetune-cosmos-embed skill's inference action for each generated inference spec. That model skill owns the Cosmos Embed container image, action command, credentials, and platform-specific mount behavior. This workflow skill owns only the generated specs and the downstream conversion into mining-ready parquet files. Do not run inference or conversion for a dataset whose combined Parquet was supplied and staged during preparation. See references/mining-loop.md for exact commands, permission repair, and conversion.
The generated lookup Parquet uses annotation_id for the original LLaVA id and video_path for resolved media. Do not rename either column to video_id; that external field belongs to Cosmos Reason and gap-analysis records.
DEFT Mining Loop
Run iterations 1..run.max_iterations. The loop is mining-only: no PAIDF or generated-video branch runs in this skill. Before gap analysis, each iteration rewrites Cosmos Reason result video_id values from LLaVA annotation ids to resolved KPI video paths and stores the prepared predictions in the iteration's gaps/ directory. It then runs gap analysis, builds one selected-modality target parquet, mines it against the combined text/video train source in one tao-mine-nearest-neighbors run, converts mined rows to LLaVA annotations, merges annotations, trains Cosmos Reason, evaluates the trained checkpoint, computes that evaluation's BCQ accuracy metrics, and removes the resumable training checkpoints while preserving the exported safetensors. At loop termination, generate the run-level accuracy report and include its baseline/iteration table in the agent's final response. See references/mining-loop.md for exact commands and completion criteria.
Completion Criteria
| Stage | Complete when |
|---|
validate_workflow | verify_workflow_yaml.py exits successfully. |
initialize_workflow | $RUN_DIR/workflow.yaml and $RUN_DIR/deft_state.json exist. |
baseline_evaluate | The evaluate job exits successfully, exactly one baseline results.json is found, and baseline/evaluate/bcq_accuracy_metrics.json exists. |
prepare_cosmos_embed_inference | Each dataset has a lookup parquet and either all required Cosmos Embed specs or a staged combined embedding Parquet. |
cosmos_embed | Every generated Cosmos Embed inference spec has completed successfully through the underlying skill. |
convert_embeddings | embedding_parquets/{kpi,train}/embeddings.parquet exist; train contains both modalities and KPI contains the selected modalities. |
gap_analysis | $RUN_DIR/iter_<N>/gaps/predictions.json exists and the container exits successfully. The workflow counts valid rows directly from kpi_gaps.jsonl; missing or empty output after successful completion means zero weak samples. |
prepare_nearest_neighbor_mining | One target parquet, optional filtered source parquet, and one nearest-neighbor spec exist. |
mine_nearest_neighbors | One mined-neighbor parquet and mining summary exist. |
record_mined_paths | When mine_unique_only is true, $RUN_DIR/mining/mined_paths_log.parquet exists; otherwise the stage is logged as skipped. |
prepare_cosmos_reason_train | Mined and accumulated LLaVA annotations plus train/specs/train.toml exist. |
train | The Cosmos Reason training job reaches terminal success. |
evaluate | Evaluation preparation finds the latest completed training checkpoint, the evaluation job exits successfully, exactly one iteration is found, and its exists. |
Troubleshooting
Prediction id does not match an annotation: Confirm the evaluation used the same KPI annotations configured by kpi_dataset.annotations_path. Every Cosmos Reason result video_id must match a LLaVA annotation id or an already-resolved annotation video path.
No target embeddings matched: Check that gaps/predictions.json and gap-analysis video_id paths match the KPI LLaVA media paths used during embedding preparation. Text mode also requires the question text to match after removing <video> and trailing “Answer with yes or no.”
Mined neighbors do not join to train lookup: Confirm every mined filepath exists in embedding_parquets/train/embeddings.parquet. Its modality determines whether the path must match train lookup.parquet filepath for text or video_path for video.
Run directory looks nested under results/<run.name>: This is expected. run.name is the run directory name under <deft_workspace>/results; all baseline, embedding, and iteration artifacts are nested there.
Docker-created output is not writable: Use restore_docker_mount_permissions.py on the affected run subdirectory after informing the user which container produced root-owned files.
Unparseable prediction count is nonzero: Report the count to the user and inspect the corresponding raw results.json responses. These predictions count as incorrect in accuracy and class recall; the metrics script does not silently drop them. An unparseable ground truth stops metric computation because the expected class is undefined.
Cosmos Reason reports No space left on device for /dev/shm/nccl-*: This is container shared memory, not ordinary disk capacity. For local Docker, run the Cosmos Reason action through tao-run-on-docker and require --ipc=host --ulimit memlock=-1 --ulimit stack=67108864. Confirm these flags in the submitted job before retrying. Other platforms must provide equivalent shared-memory and memlock settings.