New Release: Ultralytics v8.4.98

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:rocket: Ultralytics v8.4.98: Improved Hailo Export for Legacy Checkpoints

Ultralytics v8.4.98 improves Hailo export compatibility for legacy Ultralytics YOLO checkpoints while preserving strict model-family and architecture validation.

:glowing_star: What’s New

:hammer_and_wrench: Legacy Checkpoint Support

Hailo export can now identify a checkpoint’s model family from its architecture when older checkpoints do not contain the optional yaml_file metadata.

This enables more reliable Hailo deployment for legacy models without requiring users to manually restore metadata.

:magnifying_glass_tilted_left: Topology-Based Model Detection

When metadata is unavailable, the exporter examines backbone and head components to recognize supported checkpoints from:

  • YOLOv8
  • YOLO11
  • YOLO26

:white_check_mark: Strict Validation Preserved

Existing detection-head checks and supported-family restrictions remain intact. Unsupported architectures—including YOLOv5, YOLOv10, and YOLO12—are rejected before reaching Hailo’s Dataflow Compiler, helping prevent confusing downstream failures.

:test_tube: Compatibility Coverage

Testing confirms that metadata-stripped YOLOv8, YOLO11, and YOLO26 checkpoints are accepted correctly, while unsupported model families continue to be rejected.

This update improves checkpoint recognition only; it does not expand the set of model families supported for Hailo export.

:package: Additional Improvement

  • Updated the package version from 8.4.97 to 8.4.98.

:raising_hands: Contributors

This release includes legacy checkpoint support for Hailo export from @glenn-jocher.

:high_voltage: Try It Today

Upgrade to the latest release:

pip install -U ultralytics

Explore the v8.4.98 release or review the complete changes from v8.4.97 to v8.4.98.

Give the improved Hailo export flow a try with your legacy checkpoints, and share your feedback with the Ultralytics community! :rocket: