Tong Yang

Tong Yang, Jincheng Mei, Hanjun Dai et al.

Recent advances in aligning large language models with human preferences have corroborated the growing importance of best-of-N distillation (BOND). However, the iterative BOND algorithm is prohibitively expensive in practice due to the sample and computation inefficiency. This paper addresses the problem by revealing a unified game-theoretic connection between iterative BOND and self-play alignment, which unifies seemingly disparate algorithmic paradigms. Based on the connection, we establish a novel framework, WIN rate Dominance (WIND), with a series of efficient algorithms for regularized win rate dominance optimization that approximates iterative BOND in the parameter space. We provides provable sample efficiency guarantee for one of the WIND variant with the square loss objective. The experimental results confirm that our algorithm not only accelerates the computation, but also achieves superior sample efficiency compared to existing methods.

Linze Li, Sunqi Fan, Hengjun Pu et al.

Over recent years, diffusion models have facilitated significant advancements in video generation. Yet, the creation of face-related videos still confronts issues such as low facial fidelity, lack of frame consistency, limited editability and uncontrollable human poses. To address these challenges, we introduce a facial animation generation method that enhances both face identity fidelity and editing capabilities while ensuring frame consistency. This approach incorporates the concept of an anchor frame to counteract the degradation of generative ability in original text-to-image models when incorporating a motion module. We propose two strategies towards this objective: training-free and training-based anchor frame methods. Our method's efficacy has been validated on multiple representative DreamBooth and LoRA models, delivering substantial improvements over the original outcomes in terms of facial fidelity, text-to-image editability, and video motion. Moreover, we introduce conditional control using a 3D parametric face model to capture accurate facial movements and expressions. This solution augments the creative possibilities for facial animation generation through the integration of multiple control signals. For additional samples, please visit https://paper-faac.github.io/.

Tong Yang, Jaime Valls Miro, Qianen Lai et al.

A mechanism to derive non-repetitive coverage path solutions with a proven minimal number of discontinuities is proposed in this work, with the aim to avoid unnecessary, costly end effector lift-offs for manipulators. The problem is motivated by the automatic polishing of an object. Due to the non-bijective mapping between the workspace and the joint-space, a continuous coverage path in the workspace may easily be truncated in the joint-space, incuring undesirable end effector lift-offs. Inversely, there may be multiple configuration choices to cover the same point of a coverage path through the solution of the Inverse Kinematics. The solution departs from the conventional local optimisation of the coverage path shape in task space, or choosing appropriate but possibly disconnected configurations, to instead explicitly explore the leaast number of discontinuous motions through the analysis of the structure of valid configurations in joint-space. The two novel contributions of this paper include proof that the least number of path discontinuities is predicated on the surrounding environment, independent from the choice of the actual coverage path; thus has a minimum. And an efficient finite cellular decomposition method to optimally divide the workspace into the minimum number of cells, each traversable without discontinuties by any arbitrary coverage path within. Extensive simulation examples and real-world results on a 5 DoF manipulator are presented to prove the validity of the proposed strategy in realistic settings.