Sensor Data Classification Using Repeated Noisy Label Training

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Deep neural networks are susceptible to data poisoning attacks, particularly label-flipping attacks, which corrupt training data and degrade classifier performance, and existing defenses are inadequate for robustness against such adversarial manipulations.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a base classifier with an encoder and a classifier part, where the encoder is fixed and the classifier is re-trained multiple times with added label noise, allowing robust predictions by determining the most frequent label among multiple training iterations, without applying randomization to the input data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data poisoning attacks corrupt training labels, then classifier performance degrades, but robustness against such attacks is insufficient with existing defenses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverobustness against label noiseVSAvoidadversarial label corruption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The method performs preliminary actions by repeatedly training the classifier with artificially added label noise before deployment. This pre-hardening process prepares the classifier to resist adversarial label corruption in production, addressing the robustness issue proactively rather than reactively

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The method applies preliminary anti-action by introducing label noise during training that counteracts adversarial label flipping attacks. The artificial noise creates opposing forces that prevent the classifier from being easily manipulated by adversarial examples, thereby improving reliability against harmful factors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Measurement precision

If training data is collected to improve machine learning quality, then classification performance improves, but corruption from faulty sensors or adversarial attacks degrades the trained product

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclassification accuracyVSAvoidintegrity of trained product
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The method converts the harmful effect of label noise into a beneficial training mechanism. By deliberately adding noise during training, the classifier learns to ignore corrupted labels, transforming what would normally degrade performance into a robustness-enhancing feature that maintains classification accuracy despite data corruption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The method changes the training parameter of label noise from zero (clean training) to a controlled non-zero value (noisy training). This parameter change allows the classifier to adapt to imperfect data conditions, maintaining measurement precision even when training data integrity is compromised

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If repeated training with label noise is performed to improve robustness, then resistance to adversarial attacks improves, but computational cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverobustness against label noiseVSAvoidtraining efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The method applies partial action by selectively adding label noise only to certain training samples rather than uniformly to all data. This partial application of noise achieves robustness improvement with reduced computational overhead compared to comprehensive noisy training, balancing reliability gains with training efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The method uses periodic action by alternating between clean and noisy training epochs. This periodic alternation allows the classifier to learn from both clean and corrupted data patterns, achieving robustness without continuously incurring the full computational cost of noisy training, thereby improving productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3798911B1Method and system to classify sensor data with improved training robustness
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3798911B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3798911B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3798911B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Some embodiments are directed to a method (500) to classify sensor data with improved robustness against label noise. A predicted label may be computed for a novel input with improved robustness against label noise by estimating a label which is most likely under repeated application of a base training function to the training labels incorporating noise according to a noise level and subsequent application of a base classifier configured according to the base prediction function to the novel input.