description: Explore Baidu's RT-DETR, a Vision Transformer-based real-time object detector offering high accuracy and adaptable inference speed. Learn more with Ultralytics.
Real-Time Detection Transformer (RT-DETR), developed by Baidu, is a cutting-edge end-to-end object detector that provides real-time performance while maintaining high [accuracy](https://www.ultralytics.com/glossary/accuracy). It is based on the idea of DETR (the NMS-free framework), meanwhile introducing conv-based backbone and an efficient hybrid encoder to gain real-time speed. RT-DETR efficiently processes multiscale features by decoupling intra-scale interaction and cross-scale fusion. The model is highly adaptable, supporting flexible adjustment of inference speed using different decoder layers without retraining. RT-DETR excels on accelerated backends like CUDA with TensorRT, outperforming many other real-time object detectors.
 **Overview of Baidu's RT-DETR.** The RT-DETR model architecture diagram shows the last three stages of the backbone {S3, S4, S5} as the input to the encoder. The efficient hybrid encoder transforms multiscale features into a sequence of image features through intrascale feature interaction (AIFI) and cross-scale feature-fusion module (CCFM). The IoU-aware query selection is employed to select a fixed number of image features to serve as initial object queries for the decoder. Finally, the decoder with auxiliary prediction heads iteratively optimizes object queries to generate boxes and confidence scores ([source](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2304.08069.pdf)).
- **Efficient Hybrid Encoder:** Baidu's RT-DETR uses an efficient hybrid encoder that processes multiscale features by decoupling intra-scale interaction and cross-scale fusion. This unique Vision Transformers-based design reduces computational costs and allows for real-time [object detection](https://www.ultralytics.com/glossary/object-detection).
- **IoU-aware Query Selection:** Baidu's RT-DETR improves object query initialization by utilizing IoU-aware query selection. This allows the model to focus on the most relevant objects in the scene, enhancing the detection accuracy.
- **Adaptable Inference Speed:** Baidu's RT-DETR supports flexible adjustments of inference speed by using different decoder layers without the need for retraining. This adaptability facilitates practical application in various real-time object detection scenarios.
This example provides simple RT-DETR training and inference examples. For full documentation on these and other [modes](../modes/index.md) see the [Predict](../modes/predict.md), [Train](../modes/train.md), [Val](../modes/val.md) and [Export](../modes/export.md) docs pages.
This table presents the model types, the specific pre-trained weights, the tasks supported by each model, and the various modes ([Train](../modes/train.md) , [Val](../modes/val.md), [Predict](../modes/predict.md), [Export](../modes/export.md)) that are supported, indicated by ✅ emojis.
We would like to acknowledge Baidu and the [PaddlePaddle](https://github.com/PaddlePaddle/PaddleDetection) team for creating and maintaining this valuable resource for the [computer vision](https://www.ultralytics.com/glossary/computer-vision-cv) community. Their contribution to the field with the development of the Vision Transformers-based real-time object detector, RT-DETR, is greatly appreciated.
Baidu's RT-DETR (Real-Time Detection Transformer) is an advanced real-time object detector built upon the Vision Transformer architecture. It efficiently processes multiscale features by decoupling intra-scale interaction and cross-scale fusion through its efficient hybrid encoder. By employing IoU-aware query selection, the model focuses on the most relevant objects, enhancing detection accuracy. Its adaptable inference speed, achieved by adjusting decoder layers without retraining, makes RT-DETR suitable for various real-time object detection scenarios. Learn more about RT-DETR features [here](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2304.08069.pdf).
You can leverage Ultralytics Python API to use pre-trained PaddlePaddle RT-DETR models. For instance, to load an RT-DETR-l model pre-trained on COCO val2017 and achieve high FPS on T4 GPU, you can utilize the following example:
Baidu's RT-DETR stands out due to its efficient hybrid encoder and IoU-aware query selection, which drastically reduce computational costs while maintaining high accuracy. Its unique ability to adjust inference speed by using different decoder layers without retraining adds significant flexibility. This makes it particularly advantageous for applications requiring real-time performance on accelerated backends like CUDA with TensorRT, outclassing many other real-time object detectors.
Baidu's RT-DETR allows flexible adjustments of inference speed by using different decoder layers without requiring retraining. This adaptability is crucial for scaling performance across various real-time object detection tasks. Whether you need faster processing for lower [precision](https://www.ultralytics.com/glossary/precision) needs or slower, more accurate detections, RT-DETR can be tailored to meet your specific requirements.
Yes, RT-DETR models are compatible with various Ultralytics modes including training, validation, prediction, and export. You can refer to the respective documentation for detailed instructions on how to utilize these modes: [Train](../modes/train.md), [Val](../modes/val.md), [Predict](../modes/predict.md), and [Export](../modes/export.md). This ensures a comprehensive workflow for developing and deploying your object detection solutions.
