## What is Train Adapt Optimize (TAO) Toolkit?

[Train Adapt Optimize (TAO) Toolkit](https://developer.nvidia.com/tao-toolkit) is a python based AI toolkit for taking purpose-built pre-trained AI models and customizing them with your own data. TAO adapts popular network architectures and backbones to your data, allowing you to train, fine tune, prune and export highly optimized and accurate AI models for edge deployment.

The pre-trained models accelerate the AI training process and reduce costs associated with large scale data collection, labeling, and training models from scratch. Transfer learning with pre-trained models can be used for AI applications in smart cities, retail, healthcare, industrial inspection and more.

Build end-to-end services and solutions for transforming pixels and sensor data to actionable insights using TAO, [DeepStream SDK](https://developer.nvidia.com/deepstream-sdk) and [TensorRT](https://developer.nvidia.com/tensorrt). The models are suitable for object detection and classification.

### TAO Image Classification

Image Classification is a popular computer vision technique in which an image is classified into one of the designated classes based on the image features. This model card contains pretrained weights of most of the popular classification models. These weights that may be used as a starting point with the classification app in Train Adapt Optimize (TAO) Toolkit to facilitate transfer learning.

It is trained on a subset of the Google OpenImages dataset. Following backbones are supported with these detection networks.

Supported Backbone:

- resnet10/resnet18/resnet34/resnet50/resnet101
- vgg16/vgg19
- googlenet
- mobilenet_v1/mobilenet_v2
- squeezenet
- darknet19/darknet53
- efficientnet_b0
- cspdarknet19/cspdarknet53

To see the full list of all the backbones, scroll over to the version history tab.

***Note:*** These are unpruned models with just the feature extractor weights, and may not be used without retraining to deploy in a classification application.

***Note:*** Please make sure to set the `all_projections` field to `False` in the spec file when training a `ResNet101` model. For more information about this parameter please refer to the [TAO Getting Started Guide](https://docs.nvidia.com/tao/tao-toolkit/index.html).

To learn more about object detection using **YOLOV3, YOLOV4, FasterRCNN, SSD, DSSD, and RetinaNet**, click [here](https://ngc.nvidia.com/catalog/models/nvidia:tao:pretrained_object_detection)

To learn more about object detection using **DetectNet_v2**, click [here](https://ngc.nvidia.com/catalog/models/nvidia:tao:pretrained_detectnet_v2)

To learn more about instance segmentation using **MaskRCNN**, click [here](https://ngc.nvidia.com/catalog/models/nvidia:tao:pretrained_instance_segmentation)

### Running Image classification Models Using TAO

The image classification apps in TAO expect data in KITTI file format. TAO provides a simple command line interface to train a deep learning model for image classification.

The models in this model area are only compatible with TAO Toolkit. For more information about TAO please refer to the [Getting Started Guide](https://docs.nvidia.com/tao/tao-toolkit/text/overview.html).

1. Install the NGC CLI from `ngc.nvidia.com`

2. Configure the NGC CLI using the following command

```sh
ngc config set
```

3. To view all the backbones for classification that are supported by TAO:

```sh
ngc registry model list nvidia/tao_pretrained_classification:*
```

4. Download the model:

```sh
ngc registry model download-version nvidia/tao_pretrained_classification: --dest 
```

#### Instructions to run the sample notebook

1. Get the NGC API key from the SETUP tab on the left. Please store this key for future use. Detailed instructions can be found [here](https://docs.nvidia.com/ngc/ngc-getting-started-guide/index.html#generating-api-key)

2. Configure the NGC command line interface using the command mentioned below and follow the prompts.

```sh
ngc config set
```

3. Download the sample notebooks from NGC using the command below

```sh
ngc registry resource download-version "nvidia/tao_cv_samples:v1.0.2"
```

4. Invoke the jupyter notebook using the following command

```sh
jupyter notebook --ip 0.0.0.0 --port 8888 --allow-root
```

5. Open an internet browser and type in the following URL to start running the notebooks when running on a local machine.

```sh
http://0.0.0.0:8888
```

If you wish to run view the notebook from a remote client, please modify the URL as follows:

```sh
http://a.b.c.d:8888
```

Where, the `a.b.c.d` is the IP address of the machine running the container.

### Other TAO Pre-trained Models

- Get [TAO Object Detection](https://ngc.nvidia.com/catalog/models/nvidia:tao:pretrained_object_detection) pre-trained models for **YOLOV3, FasterRCNN, SSD, DSSD, and RetinaNet** architectures from NGC model registry
- Get [TAO DetectNet_v2 Object Detection](https://ngc.nvidia.com/catalog/models/nvidia:tao:pretrained_detectnet_v2) pre-trained models for **DetectNet_v2** architecture from NGC model registry
- Get [TAO Instance segmentation](https://ngc.nvidia.com/catalog/models/nvidia:tao:pretrained_instance_segmentation) pre-trained models for **MaskRCNN** architecture from NGC
- Get [TAO Semantic segmentation](https://ngc.nvidia.com/catalog/models/nvidia:tao:pretrained_semantic_segmentation) pre-trained models for **UNet** architecture from NGC
- Get Purpose-built models from NGC model registry:
- [PeopleNet](https://ngc.nvidia.com/catalog/models/nvidia:tao:peoplenet)
- [TrafficCamNet](https://ngc.nvidia.com/catalog/models/nvidia:tao:trafficcamnet)
- [DashCamNet](https://ngc.nvidia.com/catalog/models/nvidia:tao:dashcamnet)
- [FaceDetectIR](https://ngc.nvidia.com/catalog/models/nvidia:tao:facedetectir)
- [VehicleMakeNet](https://ngc.nvidia.com/catalog/models/nvidia:tao:vehiclemakenet)
- [VehicleTypeNet](https://ngc.nvidia.com/catalog/models/nvidia:tao:vehicletypenet)

### License

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, please visit this [link](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.

### Technical blogs

- Read the 2 part blog on training and optimizing 2D body pose estimation model with TAO - [Part 1](https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/training-optimizing-2d-pose-estimation-model-with-tao-toolkit-part-1) | [Part 2](https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/training-optimizing-2d-pose-estimation-model-with-tao-toolkit-part-2)
- Learn how to train [real-time License plate detection and recognition app](https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/creating-a-real-time-license-plate-detection-and-recognition-app) with TAO and DeepStream.
- Model accuracy is extremely important, learn how you can achieve [state of the art accuracy for classification and object detection models](https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/preparing-state-of-the-art-models-for-classification-and-object-detection-with-tao-toolkit/) using TAO
- Learn how to train [Instance segmentation model using MaskRCNN with TAO](https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/training-instance-segmentation-models-using-maskrcnn-on-the-tao-toolkit/)
- Learn how to improve INT8 accuracy using [Quantization aware training(QAT) with TAO](https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/improving-int8-accuracy-using-quantization-aware-training-and-the-tao-toolkit/)
- Read the technical tutorial on how [PeopleNet model can be trained with custom data using Transfer Learning Toolkit](https://devblogs.nvidia.com/training-custom-pretrained-models-using-tlt/)
- Learn how to [train and deploy real-time intelligent video analytics apps and services using DeepStream SDK](https://devblogs.nvidia.com/building-iva-apps-using-deepstream-5.0/)

### Suggested reading

- More information on about TAO Toolkit and pre-trained models can be found at the [NVIDIA Developer Zone](https://developer.nvidia.com/tao-toolkit)
- Read the [TAO getting Started](hhttps://docs.nvidia.com/tao/tao-toolkit/index.html) guide and [release notes](https://docs.nvidia.com/tao/tao-toolkit/text/release_notes.html).
- If you have any questions or feedback, please refer to the discussions on [TAO Toolkit Developer Forums](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/c/accelerated-computing/intelligent-video-analytics/tao-toolkit/17)
- Deploy your model on the edge using DeepStream. Learn more about [DeepStream SDK](https://developer.nvidia.com/deepstream-sdk)

### Ethical AI

NVIDIA’s platforms and application frameworks enable developers to build a wide array of AI applications. Consider potential algorithmic bias when choosing or creating the models being deployed. Work with the model’s developer to ensure that it meets the requirements for the relevant industry and use case; that the necessary instruction and documentation are provided to understand error rates, confidence intervals, and results; and that the model is being used under the conditions and in the manner intended.


pretrained_classification

Pretrained weights to facilitate transfer learning using TAO Toolkit.

TAO Pretrained Classification

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