HDF5 Format: What It Is and How nxted Delivers It
What is the HDF5 dataset format for robotics?
HDF5 is a general, self-describing scientific container (from the HDF Group) widely used in robotics by the ALOHA and robomimic conventions. It stores trajectories as nested groups and datasets, with mature libraries in every language - a flexible, well-supported choice for robot data.
What an HDF5 dataset contains
Trajectories stored as nested groups and arrays (observations, actions, rewards), with attributes for metadata.
- ›Self-describing groups and datasets
- ›Per-trajectory observations and actions
- ›Attributes for calibration and control frequency
- ›Mature tooling in Python, C, MATLAB and more
When to choose HDF5
Choose HDF5 if you use ALOHA or robomimic pipelines or want a flexible, language-agnostic container. See our format comparison for details.
How nxted delivers HDF5 data
nxted Capture datasets can ship in HDF5, alongside LeRobot and RLDS, with metadata, a dataset card and a Data Trust Pack.
FAQ
What is HDF5 in robotics?
A general scientific container used by the ALOHA and robomimic conventions to store robot trajectories as nested groups and arrays.
When should I use HDF5?
When you use ALOHA/robomimic pipelines or want a flexible, language-agnostic format.
Does nxted deliver in HDF5?
Yes - HDF5, LeRobot and RLDS are all available with metadata, a dataset card and a QA report.