Aeon Time Series Machine Learning

Overview

Aeon is a scikit-learn compatible Python toolkit for time series machine learning (aeon-toolkit.org). It provides algorithms across classification, regression, clustering, forecasting, anomaly detection, segmentation, similarity search, distances, transformations, benchmarking, and visualization — with a consistent estimator API.

Version note: Examples target aeon 1.x (stable docs: v1.4.0, March 2026). The v1.0 release reworked forecasting and transformations; import paths differ from aeon 0.x/sktime-era code.

When to Use This Skill

Apply this skill when:

• Classifying or predicting from time series data
• Detecting anomalies or change points in temporal sequences
• Clustering similar time series patterns
• Forecasting future values
• Finding repeated patterns (motifs) or unusual subsequences (discords)
• Comparing time series with specialized distance metrics
• Extracting features from temporal data

Installation

Requires Python 3.10+ (3.11+ recommended). Pin a 1.x release for reproducibility:

uv pip install "aeon>=1.4,<2"

For deep learning forecasters/classifiers and other optional estimators:

uv pip install "aeon[all_extras]>=1.4,<2"

On zsh, quote the extras: uv pip install "aeon[all_extras]>=1.4,<2".

Experimental modules

Upstream treats forecasting, anomaly_detection, segmentation, similarity_search, and visualisation as experimental — interfaces may change between minor releases. Prefer stable modules (classification, regression, clustering, distances, transformations) for production pipelines unless you need these tasks.

Core Capabilities

1. Time Series Classification

Categorize time series into predefined classes. See references/classification.md for complete algorithm catalog.

Quick Start:

from aeon.classification.convolution_based import RocketClassifier
from aeon.datasets import load_classification

# Load data
X_train, y_train = load_classification("GunPoint", split="train")
X_test, y_test = load_classification("GunPoint", split="test")

# Train classifier
clf = RocketClassifier(n_kernels=10000)
clf.fit(X_train, y_train)
accuracy = clf.score(X_test, y_test)

Algorithm Selection:

• Speed + Performance: MiniRocketClassifier, Arsenal
• Maximum Accuracy: HIVECOTEV2, InceptionTimeClassifier
• Interpretability: ShapeletTransformClassifier, Catch22Classifier
• Small Datasets: KNeighborsTimeSeriesClassifier with DTW distance

2. Time Series Regression

Predict continuous values from time series. See references/regression.md for algorithms.

Quick Start:

from aeon.regression.convolution_based import RocketRegressor
from aeon.datasets import load_regression

X_train, y_train = load_regression("Covid3Month", split="train")
X_test, y_test = load_regression("Covid3Month", split="test")

reg = RocketRegressor()
reg.fit(X_train, y_train)
predictions = reg.predict(X_test)

3. Time Series Clustering

Group similar time series without labels. See references/clustering.md for methods.

Quick Start:

from aeon.clustering import TimeSeriesKMeans

clusterer = TimeSeriesKMeans(
    n_clusters=3,
    distance="dtw",
    averaging_method="ba"
)
labels = clusterer.fit_predict(X_train)
centers = clusterer.cluster_centers_

4. Forecasting

Predict future time series values (experimental module in aeon 1.x). See references/forecasting.md for forecasters.

Quick Start:

import numpy as np
from aeon.forecasting import NaiveForecaster
from aeon.forecasting.stats import ARIMA

y_train = np.array([1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0])

# Set horizon in the constructor; predict passes the series to forecast from
naive = NaiveForecaster(strategy="last", horizon=5)
naive.fit(y_train)
y_pred = naive.predict(y_train)

# ARIMA uses p/d/q (not order=); multi-step via iterative_forecast
arima = ARIMA(p=1, d=1, q=1)
arima.fit(y_train)
y_pred = arima.iterative_forecast(y_train, prediction_horizon=5)

5. Anomaly Detection

Identify unusual patterns or outliers. See references/anomaly_detection.md for detectors.

Quick Start:

from aeon.anomaly_detection import STOMP

detector = STOMP(window_size=50)
anomaly_scores = detector.fit_predict(y)

# Higher scores indicate anomalies
threshold = np.percentile(anomaly_scores, 95)
anomalies = anomaly_scores > threshold

6. Segmentation

Partition time series into regions with change points. See references/segmentation.md.

Quick Start:

from aeon.segmentation import ClaSPSegmenter

segmenter = ClaSPSegmenter()
change_points = segmenter.fit_predict(y)

7. Similarity Search

Find similar patterns within or across time series. See references/similarity_search.md.

Quick Start:

from aeon.similarity_search import StompMotif

# Find recurring patterns
motif_finder = StompMotif(window_size=50, k=3)
motifs = motif_finder.fit_predict(y)

Feature Extraction and Transformations

Transform time series for feature engineering. See references/transformations.md.

ROCKET Features:

from aeon.transformations.collection.convolution_based import RocketTransformer

rocket = RocketTransformer()
X_features = rocket.fit_transform(X_train)

# Use features with any sklearn classifier
from sklearn.ensemble import RandomForestClassifier
clf = RandomForestClassifier()
clf.fit(X_features, y_train)

Statistical Features:

from aeon.transformations.collection.feature_based import Catch22

catch22 = Catch22()
X_features = catch22.fit_transform(X_train)

Preprocessing:

from aeon.transformations.collection import MinMaxScaler, Normalizer

scaler = Normalizer()  # Z-normalization
X_normalized = scaler.fit_transform(X_train)

Distance Metrics

Specialized temporal distance measures. See references/distances.md for complete catalog.

Usage:

from aeon.distances import dtw_distance, dtw_pairwise_distance

# Single distance
distance = dtw_distance(x, y, window=0.1)

# Pairwise distances
distance_matrix = dtw_pairwise_distance(X_train)

# Use with classifiers
from aeon.classification.distance_based import KNeighborsTimeSeriesClassifier

clf = KNeighborsTimeSeriesClassifier(
    n_neighbors=5,
    distance="dtw",
    distance_params={"window": 0.2}
)

Available Distances:

• Elastic: DTW, DDTW, WDTW, ERP, EDR, LCSS, TWE, MSM
• Lock-step: Euclidean, Manhattan, Minkowski
• Shape-based: Shape DTW, SBD

Deep Learning Networks

Neural architectures for time series. See references/networks.md.

Architectures:

• Convolutional: FCNClassifier, ResNetClassifier, InceptionTimeClassifier
• Recurrent: RecurrentNetwork, TCNNetwork
• Autoencoders: AEFCNClusterer, AEResNetClusterer

Usage:

from aeon.classification.deep_learning import InceptionTimeClassifier

clf = InceptionTimeClassifier(n_epochs=100, batch_size=32)
clf.fit(X_train, y_train)
predictions = clf.predict(X_test)

Datasets and Benchmarking

Load standard benchmarks and evaluate performance. See references/datasets_benchmarking.md.

Load Datasets:

from aeon.datasets import load_classification, load_gunpoint, load_regression

# Classification (generic loader or dataset-specific helper)
X_train, y_train = load_classification("GunPoint", split="train")
X_train, y_train = load_gunpoint(split="train")  # same UCR dataset

# Regression
X_train, y_train = load_regression("Covid3Month", split="train")

Benchmarking:

from aeon.benchmarking import get_estimator_results

# Compare with published results
published = get_estimator_results("ROCKET", "GunPoint")

Common Workflows

Classification Pipeline

from aeon.transformations.collection import Normalizer
from aeon.classification.convolution_based import RocketClassifier
from sklearn.pipeline import Pipeline

pipeline = Pipeline([
    ('normalize', Normalizer()),
    ('classify', RocketClassifier())
])

pipeline.fit(X_train, y_train)
accuracy = pipeline.score(X_test, y_test)

Feature Extraction + Traditional ML

from aeon.transformations.collection import RocketTransformer
from sklearn.ensemble import GradientBoostingClassifier

# Extract features
rocket = RocketTransformer()
X_train_features = rocket.fit_transform(X_train)
X_test_features = rocket.transform(X_test)

# Train traditional ML
clf = GradientBoostingClassifier()
clf.fit(X_train_features, y_train)
predictions = clf.predict(X_test_features)

Anomaly Detection with Visualization

from aeon.anomaly_detection import STOMP
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

detector = STOMP(window_size=50)
scores = detector.fit_predict(y)

plt.figure(figsize=(15, 5))
plt.subplot(2, 1, 1)
plt.plot(y, label='Time Series')
plt.subplot(2, 1, 2)
plt.plot(scores, label='Anomaly Scores', color='red')
plt.axhline(np.percentile(scores, 95), color='k', linestyle='--')
plt.show()

Best Practices

Data Preparation

1. Normalize: Most algorithms benefit from z-normalization

   from aeon.transformations.collection import Normalizer
   normalizer = Normalizer()
   X_train = normalizer.fit_transform(X_train)
   X_test = normalizer.transform(X_test)
   

2. Handle Missing Values: Impute before analysis

   from aeon.transformations.collection import SimpleImputer
   imputer = SimpleImputer(strategy='mean')
   X_train = imputer.fit_transform(X_train)
   

3. Check Data Format: Collections use (n_cases, n_channels, n_timepoints); single series use (n_channels, n_timepoints) (see data format)

Model Selection

1. Start Simple: Begin with ROCKET variants before deep learning
2. Use Validation: Split training data for hyperparameter tuning
3. Compare Baselines: Test against simple methods (1-NN Euclidean, Naive)
4. Consider Resources: ROCKET for speed, deep learning if GPU available

Algorithm Selection Guide

For Fast Prototyping:

• Classification: MiniRocketClassifier
• Regression: MiniRocketRegressor
• Clustering: TimeSeriesKMeans with Euclidean

For Maximum Accuracy:

• Classification: HIVECOTEV2, InceptionTimeClassifier
• Regression: InceptionTimeRegressor
• Forecasting: AutoARIMA, AutoETS, TCNForecaster (requires [all_extras] for deep learning)

For Interpretability:

• Classification: ShapeletTransformClassifier, Catch22Classifier
• Features: Catch22, TSFresh

For Small Datasets:

• Distance-based: KNeighborsTimeSeriesClassifier with DTW
• Avoid: Deep learning (requires large data)

Reference Documentation

Detailed information available in references/:

• classification.md - All classification algorithms
• regression.md - Regression methods
• clustering.md - Clustering algorithms
• forecasting.md - Forecasting approaches
• anomaly_detection.md - Anomaly detection methods
• segmentation.md - Segmentation algorithms
• similarity_search.md - Pattern matching and motif discovery
• transformations.md - Feature extraction and preprocessing
• distances.md - Time series distance metrics
• networks.md - Deep learning architectures
• datasets_benchmarking.md - Data loading and evaluation tools

Additional Resources

• Documentation: https://www.aeon-toolkit.org/
• GitHub: https://github.com/aeon-toolkit/aeon
• Examples: https://www.aeon-toolkit.org/en/stable/examples.html
• API Reference: https://www.aeon-toolkit.org/en/stable/api_reference.html