Welcome to the Ultralytics YOLO26 🚀 notebook! <a href="https://github.com/ultralytics/ultralytics">YOLO26</a> is the latest version of the YOLO (You Only Look Once) AI models developed by <a href="https://ultralytics.com">Ultralytics</a>. This notebook serves as the starting point for exploring the various resources available to help you get started with YOLO26 and understand its features and capabilities.

YOLO26 models are fast, accurate, and easy to use, making them ideal for various object detection and image segmentation tasks. They can be trained on large datasets and run on diverse hardware platforms, from CPUs to GPUs.

We hope that the resources in this notebook will help you get the most out of YOLO26. Please browse the YOLO26 <a href="https://docs.ultralytics.com/guides/heatmaps">Heatmap Docs</a> for details, raise an issue on <a href="https://github.com/ultralytics/ultralytics">GitHub</a> for support, and join our <a href="https://ultralytics.com/discord">Discord</a> community for questions and discussions!

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Setup

pip install ultralytics and dependencies and check software and hardware.

python

!uv pip install ultralytics
import ultralytics

ultralytics.checks()

Introduction to Heatmaps

A heatmap generated with Ultralytics YOLO26 transforms complex data into a vibrant, color-coded matrix. This visual tool employs a spectrum of colors to represent varying data values, where warmer hues indicate higher intensities and cooler tones signify lower values. Heatmaps excel in visualizing intricate data patterns, correlations, and anomalies, offering an accessible and engaging approach to data interpretation across diverse domains.

Real World Applications

Transportation	Retail

Ultralytics YOLO11 Transportation Heatmap	Ultralytics YOLO11 Retail Heatmap

python

import cv2

from ultralytics import solutions

# Open video file
cap = cv2.VideoCapture("path/to/video.mp4")
assert cap.isOpened(), "Error reading video file"

# Get video properties
w, h, fps = (int(cap.get(x)) for x in (cv2.CAP_PROP_FRAME_WIDTH, cv2.CAP_PROP_FRAME_HEIGHT, cv2.CAP_PROP_FPS))

# Initialize video writer
video_writer = cv2.VideoWriter("heatmap_output.avi", cv2.VideoWriter_fourcc(*"mp4v"), fps, (w, h))

# Initialize heatmap object
heatmap_obj = solutions.Heatmap(
    colormap=cv2.COLORMAP_PARULA,  # Color of the heatmap
    show=True,  # Display the image during processing
    model="yolo26n.pt",  # Ultralytics YOLO26 model file
)

while cap.isOpened():
    success, im0 = cap.read()
    if not success:
        print("Video frame is empty or video processing has been successfully completed.")
        break

    # Generate heatmap on the frame
    results = heatmap_obj(im0)

    # Write the frame to the output video
    video_writer.write(results.plot_im)

# Release resources
cap.release()
video_writer.release()
cv2.destroyAllWindows()

Additional Resources

Community Support

For more information on using heatmaps with Ultralytics, you can explore the comprehensive Ultralytics Heatmaps Docs. This guide covers everything from basic concepts to advanced techniques, ensuring you get the most out of your heatmap visualizations.

Ultralytics ⚡ Resources

At Ultralytics, we are committed to providing cutting-edge AI solutions. Here are some key resources to learn more about our company and get involved with our community:

Ultralytics HUB: Simplify your AI projects with Ultralytics HUB, our no-code tool for effortless YOLO training and deployment.
Ultralytics Licensing: Review our licensing terms to understand how you can use our software in your projects.
About Us: Discover our mission, vision, and the story behind Ultralytics.
Join Our Team: Explore career opportunities and join our team of talented professionals.

YOLO26 🚀 Resources

YOLO26 is the latest evolution in the YOLO series, offering state-of-the-art performance in object detection and image segmentation. Here are some essential resources to help you get started with YOLO26:

GitHub: Access the YOLO26 repository on GitHub, where you can find the source code, contribute to the project, and report issues.
Docs: Explore the official documentation for YOLO26, including installation guides, tutorials, and detailed API references.
Discord: Join our Discord community to connect with other users, share your projects, and get help from the Ultralytics team.

These resources are designed to help you leverage the full potential of Ultralytics' offerings and YOLO26. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, you'll find the information and support you need to succeed.