ultralytics 8.4.141

v8.4.141 - Update Axelera SDK to 1.8.0 and support batched inference (#26065)

on Python PyPI

🌟 Summary

Ultralytics 8.4.141 updates Axelera support to Voyager SDK 1.8.0, adds batched inference, and improves model compatibility, dependency management, and CI reliability. 🚀

📊 Key Changes

• Axelera integration upgraded to Voyager SDK 1.8.0 🔧

  • Export and inference now use matching axelera-devkit and axelera-rt 1.8.0 packages.
  • Axelera export environments move to Python 3.13 and support a wider compatible PyTorch range.
  • Removed the previous NumPy version ceiling and improved SDK version checks before compiler loading.
  • Export now ensures the correct SDK environment tools are available on PATH and safely restores environment variables afterward.

• Batched Axelera inference is now supported 📦

  • Predictions with batch>1 are routed through the Voyager scheduler.
  • Outputs are returned in the original input order for both single- and multi-output models.
  • Models are still compiled for a single image, so batching improves workflow compatibility but does not necessarily increase end-to-end speed on one device.

• Axelera deployment requirements are documented more clearly 📚

  • Voyager SDK 1.8.0 requires the Metis kernel driver 1.6.2 or newer.
  • Models exported with an older SDK must be re-exported because SDK 1.8 uses a newer compiled model format.
  • YOLO26 semantic segmentation is documented as supported, while YOLO26 instance segmentation remains unavailable through the Ultralytics export command.

• Fixed legacy SPPF model reconstruction 🛠️

  • Pre-YOLO26 YAML configurations once risked rebuilding SPPF layers with the wrong activation behavior.
  • Legacy models now restore their original activation settings, preserving released model graphs and outputs.
  • Regression coverage now checks multiple YOLO configurations, including YOLO8, YOLO10, YOLO11, and YOLO26.

• OpenVINO dependencies are now opt-in 📦

  • OpenVINO and NNCF moved from export-base to a dedicated export-openvino extra.
  • The aggregate export extra still includes OpenVINO support.
  • This reduces unnecessary installations for users who only need the common export stack.

• Conda CI dependency resolution improved ⚡

  • CI now uses only conda-forge with strict channel priority and removes inherited default channels.
  • Installation is noninteractive and has a 20-minute timeout, preventing stalled dependency solves from consuming the full job.

🎯 Purpose & Impact

• Axelera users can use the latest SDK, run inference on image batches, and benefit from more reliable automatic dependency handling. Existing Axelera models may need to be re-exported after upgrading. ⚠️
• Deployment compatibility is improved, but users must keep the Metis driver aligned with Voyager SDK 1.8.0.
• Legacy Ultralytics models are safer to rebuild from YAML without silently changing SPPF behavior.
• General installations become lighter when OpenVINO is not required, while OpenVINO export remains available through its dedicated extra or the full export installation.
• Contributors and maintainers benefit from faster, more predictable Conda CI failures and clearer environment setup.
• The release increments the package version to 8.4.141, enabling downstream Ultralytics Platform updates to require the corrected Axelera exporter.

What's Changed

• Restore SPPF cv1 activation for pre-YOLO26 models by @Erickrk in #26040
• Fix Conda CI dependency resolution and install timeout by @glenn-jocher in #26064
• Move OpenVINO dependencies out of the base install extra by @Gornoka in #26038
• Update Axelera SDK to 1.8.0 and support batched inference by @glenn-jocher in #26065

New Contributors

• @Erickrk made their first contribution in #26040

Full Changelog: v8.4.140...v8.4.141