description: Learn how to deploy Ultralytics YOLOv8 on Raspberry Pi with our comprehensive guide. Get performance benchmarks, setup instructions, and best practices.
This comprehensive guide provides a detailed walkthrough for deploying Ultralytics YOLOv8 on [Raspberry Pi](https://www.raspberrypi.com/) devices. Additionally, it showcases performance benchmarks to demonstrate the capabilities of YOLOv8 on these small and powerful devices.
This guide has been tested with Raspberry Pi 4 and Raspberry Pi 5 running the latest [Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm (Debian 12)](https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/operating-systems/). Using this guide for older Raspberry Pi devices such as the Raspberry Pi 3 is expected to work as long as the same Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm is installed.
Raspberry Pi is a small, affordable, single-board computer. It has become popular for a wide range of projects and applications, from hobbyist home automation to industrial uses. Raspberry Pi boards are capable of running a variety of operating systems, and they offer GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output) pins that allow for easy integration with sensors, actuators, and other hardware components. They come in different models with varying specifications, but they all share the same basic design philosophy of being low-cost, compact, and versatile.
[Raspberry Pi OS](https://www.raspberrypi.com/software) (formerly known as Raspbian) is a Unix-like operating system based on the Debian GNU/Linux distribution for the Raspberry Pi family of compact single-board computers distributed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. Raspberry Pi OS is highly optimized for the Raspberry Pi with ARM CPUs and uses a modified LXDE desktop environment with the Openbox stacking window manager. Raspberry Pi OS is under active development, with an emphasis on improving the stability and performance of as many Debian packages as possible on Raspberry Pi.
The first thing to do after getting your hands on a Raspberry Pi is to flash a micro-SD card with Raspberry Pi OS, insert into the device and boot into the OS. Follow along with detailed [Getting Started Documentation by Raspberry Pi](https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/getting-started.html) to prepare your device for first use.
There are two ways of setting up Ultralytics package on Raspberry Pi to build your next [Computer Vision](https://www.ultralytics.com/glossary/computer-vision-cv) project. You can use either of them.
Execute the below command to pull the Docker container and run on Raspberry Pi. This is based on [arm64v8/debian](https://hub.docker.com/r/arm64v8/debian) docker image which contains Debian 12 (Bookworm) in a Python3 environment.
Here we will install Ultralytics package on the Raspberry Pi with optional dependencies so that we can export the [PyTorch](https://www.ultralytics.com/glossary/pytorch) models to other different formats.
Out of all the model export formats supported by Ultralytics, [NCNN](https://docs.ultralytics.com/integrations/ncnn/) delivers the best inference performance when working with Raspberry Pi devices because NCNN is highly optimized for mobile/ embedded platforms (such as ARM architecture). Therefor our recommendation is to use NCNN with Raspberry Pi.
For more details about supported export options, visit the [Ultralytics documentation page on deployment options](https://docs.ultralytics.com/guides/model-deployment-options/).
YOLOv8 benchmarks were run by the Ultralytics team on nine different model formats measuring speed and [accuracy](https://www.ultralytics.com/glossary/accuracy): PyTorch, TorchScript, ONNX, OpenVINO, TF SavedModel, TF GraphDef, TF Lite, PaddlePaddle, NCNN. Benchmarks were run on both Raspberry Pi 5 and Raspberry Pi 4 at FP32 [precision](https://www.ultralytics.com/glossary/precision) with default input image size of 640.
We have only included benchmarks for YOLOv8n and YOLOv8s models because other models sizes are too big to run on the Raspberry Pis and does not offer decent performance.
The below table represents the benchmark results for two different models (YOLOv8n, YOLOv8s) across nine different formats (PyTorch, TorchScript, ONNX, OpenVINO, TF SavedModel, TF GraphDef, TF Lite, PaddlePaddle, NCNN), running on both Raspberry Pi 4 and Raspberry Pi 5, giving us the status, size, mAP50-95(B) metric, and inference time for each combination.
Note that benchmarking results might vary based on the exact hardware and software configuration of a system, as well as the current workload of the system at the time the benchmarks are run. For the most reliable results use a dataset with a large number of images, i.e. `data='coco8.yaml' (4 val images), or `data='coco.yaml'` (5000 val images).
## Use Raspberry Pi Camera
When using Raspberry Pi for Computer Vision projects, it can be essentially to grab real-time video feeds to perform inference. The onboard MIPI CSI connector on the Raspberry Pi allows you to connect official Raspberry PI camera modules. In this guide, we have used a [Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3](https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/camera-module-3) to grab the video feeds and perform inference using YOLOv8 models.
Learn more about the [different camera modules offered by Raspberry Pi](https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/accessories/camera.html) and also [how to get started with the Raspberry Pi camera modules](https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/camera_software.html#introducing-the-raspberry-pi-cameras).
Raspberry Pi 5 uses smaller CSI connectors than the Raspberry Pi 4 (15-pin vs 22-pin), so you will need a [15-pin to 22pin adapter cable](https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/camera-cable) to connect to a Raspberry Pi Camera.
### Test the Camera
Execute the following command after connecting the camera to the Raspberry Pi. You should see a live video feed from the camera for about 5 seconds.
Learn more about [`rpicam-hello` usage on official Raspberry Pi documentation](https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/camera_software.html#rpicam-hello)
We need to initiate a TCP stream with `rpicam-vid` from the connected camera so that we can use this stream URL as an input when we are inferencing later. Execute the following command to start the TCP stream.
Learn more about [`rpicam-vid` usage on official Raspberry Pi documentation](https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/camera_software.html#rpicam-vid)
Check our document on [Inference Sources](https://docs.ultralytics.com/modes/predict/#inference-sources) if you want to change the image/ video input type
## Best Practices when using Raspberry Pi
There are a couple of best practices to follow in order to enable maximum performance on Raspberry Pis running YOLOv8.
When using Raspberry Pi for 24x7 continued usage, it is recommended to use an SSD for the system because an SD card will not be able to withstand continuous writes and might get broken. With the onboard PCIe connector on the Raspberry Pi 5, now you can connect SSDs using an adapter such as the [NVMe Base for Raspberry Pi 5](https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/nvme-base).
When flashing Raspberry Pi OS, you can choose to not install the Desktop environment (Raspberry Pi OS Lite) and this can save a bit of RAM on the device, leaving more space for computer vision processing.
Congratulations on successfully setting up YOLO on your Raspberry Pi! For further learning and support, visit [Ultralytics YOLOv8 Docs](../index.md) and [Kashmir World Foundation](https://www.kashmirworldfoundation.org/).
This guide was initially created by Daan Eeltink for Kashmir World Foundation, an organization dedicated to the use of YOLO for the conservation of endangered species. We acknowledge their pioneering work and educational focus in the realm of object detection technologies.
### How do I set up Ultralytics YOLOv8 on a Raspberry Pi without using Docker?
To set up Ultralytics YOLOv8 on a Raspberry Pi without Docker, follow these steps:
1. Update the package list and install `pip`:
```bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3-pip -y
pip install -U pip
```
2. Install the Ultralytics package with optional dependencies:
```bash
pip install ultralytics[export]
```
3. Reboot the device to apply changes:
```bash
sudo reboot
```
For detailed instructions, refer to the [Start without Docker](#start-without-docker) section.
### Why should I use Ultralytics YOLOv8's NCNN format on Raspberry Pi for AI tasks?
Ultralytics YOLOv8's NCNN format is highly optimized for mobile and embedded platforms, making it ideal for running AI tasks on Raspberry Pi devices. NCNN maximizes inference performance by leveraging ARM architecture, providing faster and more efficient processing compared to other formats. For more details on supported export options, visit the [Ultralytics documentation page on deployment options](../modes/export.md).
### How can I convert a YOLOv8 model to NCNN format for use on Raspberry Pi?
You can convert a PyTorch YOLOv8 model to NCNN format using either Python or CLI commands:
For more details, see the [Use NCNN on Raspberry Pi](#use-ncnn-on-raspberry-pi) section.
### What are the hardware differences between Raspberry Pi 4 and Raspberry Pi 5 relevant to running YOLOv8?
Key differences include:
- **CPU**: Raspberry Pi 4 uses Broadcom BCM2711, Cortex-A72 64-bit SoC, while Raspberry Pi 5 uses Broadcom BCM2712, Cortex-A76 64-bit SoC.
- **Max CPU Frequency**: Raspberry Pi 4 has a max frequency of 1.8GHz, whereas Raspberry Pi 5 reaches 2.4GHz.
- **Memory**: Raspberry Pi 4 offers up to 8GB of LPDDR4-3200 SDRAM, while Raspberry Pi 5 features LPDDR4X-4267 SDRAM, available in 4GB and 8GB variants.
These enhancements contribute to better performance benchmarks for YOLOv8 models on Raspberry Pi 5 compared to Raspberry Pi 4. Refer to the [Raspberry Pi Series Comparison](#raspberry-pi-series-comparison) table for more details.
### How can I set up a Raspberry Pi Camera Module to work with Ultralytics YOLOv8?
There are two methods to set up a Raspberry Pi Camera for YOLOv8 inference:
