UniCon: A Unified System for Efficient Robot Learning Transfers

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Lin, Yunfeng, Xu, Li, Yu, Yong, Pang, Jiangmiao, Zhang, Weinan
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Lin, Yunfeng
Xu, Li
Yu, Yong
Pang, Jiangmiao
Zhang, Weinan
author_facet Lin, Yunfeng
Xu, Li
Yu, Yong
Pang, Jiangmiao
Zhang, Weinan
contents Deploying learning-based controllers across heterogeneous robots is challenging due to platform differences, inconsistent interfaces, and inefficient middleware. To address these issues, we present UniCon, a lightweight framework that standardizes states, control flow, and instrumentation across platforms. It decomposes workflows into execution graphs with reusable components, separating system states from control logic to enable plug-and-play deployment across various robot morphologies. Unlike traditional middleware, it prioritizes efficiency through batched, vectorized data flow, minimizing communication overhead and improving inference latency. This modular, data-oriented approach enables seamless sim-to-real transfer with minimal re-engineering. We demonstrate that UniCon reduces code redundancy when transferring workflows and achieves higher inference efficiency compared to ROS-based systems. Deployed on over 12 robot models from 7 manufacturers, it has been successfully integrated into ongoing research projects, proving its effectiveness in real-world scenarios.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_14617
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle UniCon: A Unified System for Efficient Robot Learning Transfers
Lin, Yunfeng
Xu, Li
Yu, Yong
Pang, Jiangmiao
Zhang, Weinan
Robotics
Software Engineering
Deploying learning-based controllers across heterogeneous robots is challenging due to platform differences, inconsistent interfaces, and inefficient middleware. To address these issues, we present UniCon, a lightweight framework that standardizes states, control flow, and instrumentation across platforms. It decomposes workflows into execution graphs with reusable components, separating system states from control logic to enable plug-and-play deployment across various robot morphologies. Unlike traditional middleware, it prioritizes efficiency through batched, vectorized data flow, minimizing communication overhead and improving inference latency. This modular, data-oriented approach enables seamless sim-to-real transfer with minimal re-engineering. We demonstrate that UniCon reduces code redundancy when transferring workflows and achieves higher inference efficiency compared to ROS-based systems. Deployed on over 12 robot models from 7 manufacturers, it has been successfully integrated into ongoing research projects, proving its effectiveness in real-world scenarios.
title UniCon: A Unified System for Efficient Robot Learning Transfers
topic Robotics
Software Engineering
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.14617