Hailo is an edge AI technology company that designs specialized processors and software for running advanced artificial intelligence directly on edge devices. By moving neural network inference out of the cloud and onto local hardware, Hailo dramatically reduces latency, boosts energy efficiency, and keeps sensitive data private. Its solutions target industries ranging from automotive and industrial automation to retail and healthcare, enabling real‑time AI even in power‑constrained environments.
Hailo
Power real-time AI inference directly on edge devices using Hailo.
What is Hailo?
Core Features
- Edge AI Processing: Hailo processors are built from the ground up to execute complex neural networks at the edge, delivering high throughput and low power consumption.
- Generative AI Accelerators: The Hailo‑10H M.2 module supports a wide range of transformer models and large language models (LLMs), making on‑device generative AI tasks practical.
- AI Vision Processors: The Hailo‑15 AI Vision Processor integrates advanced computer vision engines, pushing the boundaries of video analytics and intelligent camera applications.
- Comprehensive Software Suite: Includes the Hailo Dataflow Compiler, HailoRT runtime, a Model Zoo of pre‑optimized models, and the TAPPAS vision software package—simplifying deployment from training to production.
- Real‑Time Data Processing: By eliminating cloud round‑trips, Hailo enables instant, local decision‑making critical for autonomous systems and live video streams.
- Energy‑Efficient Architecture: Designed for mobile and embedded devices, Hailo chips minimize power draw without sacrificing performance.
- Scalable Solutions: The product line spans from low‑power modules for IoT devices to high‑end accelerators for demanding industrial workloads.
Use Cases & Considerations
- Automotive ADAS & Autonomous Driving: Carmakers use Hailo processors to run perception, object detection, and sensor fusion algorithms in real time, improving safety and response.
- Intelligent Security & Surveillance: Cameras and access control systems leverage Hailo’s vision processors for tasks like license plate recognition, intrusion detection, and crowd analytics—all processed locally.
- Industrial Automation & Quality Inspection: Factories deploy Hailo‑powered systems to detect defects, anomalies, and equipment wear on production lines with high accuracy and low latency.
- Retail & Point of Sale: Retailers embed Hailo accelerators in kiosks, smart shelves, and POS terminals to enable inventory tracking, customer analytics, and seamless checkout experiences.
- Healthcare Imaging & Diagnostics: Medical devices use Hailo’s edge AI to run real‑time analysis on ultrasound, X‑ray, or MRI data, protecting patient privacy by keeping images on‑premises.
- Education & Research: Universities and R&D labs integrate Hailo hardware into experimental setups, giving students and researchers a practical, high‑performance edge AI platform.
- Specialized hardware integration: Hailo processors must be physically embedded; they can’t be used purely via cloud or as a plug‑and‑play peripheral without some hardware design.
- Steep learning curve: Mastering the Dataflow Compiler and optimisation techniques may require time, especially for developers new to edge‑NPU programming.
- Initial investment cost: While cost‑effective at scale, the upfront price of modules and development kits can be a barrier for very small projects or hobbyists.
- Ecosystem maturity: Compared to giants like NVIDIA or Intel, Hailo’s third‑party library support and community size are still growing, which can affect troubleshooting speed.
- Limited to edge deployment: Hailo does not offer a cloud‑based inference service; all processing happens on‑device, which may not suit use cases that require global model updates or centralized logging.
- Software compatibility: While major frameworks are supported, certain custom operations or bleeding‑edge model architectures might need extra conversion effort or not be fully optimised.
How to use Hailo
- Select the appropriate hardware: Choose from Hailo‑8, Hailo‑15, or Hailo‑10H modules (M.2, mPCIe, or standalone vision processors) based on your performance and form‑factor needs.
- Integrate the hardware into your device: Install the Hailo accelerator in an available M.2 slot, mPCIe slot, or embed it on a custom carrier board following Hailo’s design guidelines.
- Install the software stack: Download and set up the HailoRT runtime, Dataflow Compiler, and any required drivers on your Linux‑based edge system (Windows support may be available for certain modules).
- Choose or prepare an AI model: Use the Hailo Model Zoo for ready‑made, optimized models, or convert your own trained model from TensorFlow, PyTorch, or ONNX using the Dataflow Compiler.
- Deploy and run inference: Load the compiled model onto the Hailo processor via HailoRT and integrate it into your application code. For vision tasks, TAPPAS provides ready‑to‑use pipelines.
- Monitor and optimize: Analyze performance metrics using Hailo’s profiling tools, and fine‑tune model partitioning or precision settings to balance speed, accuracy, and power usage.
Pricing & Plans
Hailo’s pricing is customized based on the hardware module, volume, and level of support required. Entry‑level development kits and low‑volume modules typically offer a cost‑effective path for startups and small enterprises. Industrial‑grade solutions for high‑demand environments are priced according to specifications, warranty, and dedicated engineering support. For accurate quotes and the latest pricing, refer directly to the official Hailo website.
Platforms
- Edge hardware modules: Hailo‑8, Hailo‑15, and Hailo‑10H accelerators in M.2, mPCIe, and other form factors for direct integration into custom boards or existing systems.
- Software development kit (SDK): HailoRT runtime, Dataflow Compiler, and a rich set of APIs for C/C++ and Python enable flexible application development.
- AI model optimization tools: Command‑line utilities and graphical interfaces to convert, quantize, and compile models from major frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, and ONNX.
- Pre‑built application pipelines: TAPPAS provides reference pipelines for common vision tasks, running out of the box on Ubuntu-based systems.
- Developer resources: Comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and a community portal to support integration across various Linux distributions and hardware platforms.
Tips & Best Practices
- Start with the Model Zoo: Pre‑optimized models save time and guarantee efficient hardware utilization; adapt them to your use case before training custom models from scratch.
- Leverage TAPPAS for vision applications: This software package offers building blocks for video decoding, analytics, and display, accelerating your product development cycle.
- Use the Dataflow Compiler iteratively: Fine‑tune quantization and partitioning settings to maximize throughput while maintaining acceptable accuracy for your specific workload.
- Test on actual hardware early: Simulated environments don’t expose real‑world bottlenecks; validate performance with a development kit as soon as possible.
- Engage with Hailo’s developer community: Forums, tutorials, and dedicated training sessions provide practical advice and troubleshooting help, especially with advanced integration scenarios.
- Plan thermal and power management: Even though Hailo processors are energy efficient, embedding them in sealed or fan‑less enclosures requires adequate heat dissipation.
Who is Hailo for?
- Automotive engineers working on ADAS, autonomous driving, or in‑cabin monitoring systems that demand real‑time, reliable AI.
- Security system integrators building intelligent cameras, access control panels, or perimeter protection solutions with on‑device analytics.
- Industrial automation professionals deploying visual inspection, predictive maintenance, or robotic guidance on factory floors.
- Retail technology providers creating smart checkout, shelf‑monitoring, or customer engagement platforms that need low‑latency, private processing.
- AI researchers and academics requiring a compact, high‑performance platform for edge AI experimentation and teaching.
- Healthcare equipment manufacturers designing portable or stationary diagnostic devices that must keep data local for privacy compliance.
Alternatives
View allA popular edge AI platform with GPU‑accelerated modules; more software ecosystem but typically higher power consumption.
Vision processing units and optimization toolkit, good for computer vision tasks, often found in USB‑stick accelerators.
A small, low‑power accelerator focused on TensorFlow Lite models, ideal for simple classification and detection at the edge.
Integrated AI engines in Snapdragon SoCs, widely used in smartphones and IoT devices, offering a combination of CPU, GPU, and AI accelerators.
Adaptive SoCs and FPGA‑based solutions that provide AI inference with hardware reconfigurability for specialized pipelines.
A cloud‑connected edge appliance that includes AI accelerators, but relies heavily on Azure services compared to Hailo’s purely local paradigm.
FAQ
Q1. What types of AI models does Hailo support?
Hailo accelerators can run a broad range of models, including CNNs, transformer networks, and large language models (LLMs). The Dataflow Compiler can convert models from TensorFlow, PyTorch, and ONNX into the proprietary format needed for optimal execution.
Q2. How does Hailo ensure data privacy?
All inference runs locally on the edge device. No raw data is sent to the cloud, which means sensitive images, videos, or sensor readings stay on‑premises, helping organizations comply with privacy regulations.
Q3. What is the difference between the Hailo‑8 and Hailo‑15?
Hailo‑8 is a general‑purpose edge AI accelerator suitable for a wide variety of neural networks. Hailo‑15 is an AI vision processor that includes dedicated computer vision engines, making it particularly efficient for video analytics and smart camera applications.
Q4. Can I use Hailo with my existing AI framework?
Yes. The Hailo Dataflow Compiler accepts models from standard frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, and ONNX. After compilation, the model runs on the Hailo processor through the HailoRT runtime, which provides APIs for C/C++ and Python.
Q5. Is Hailo suitable for real‑time video analytics?
Absolutely. The Hailo‑15 processor is specifically designed for multi‑stream video processing at high resolution and high frame rates. Combined with the TAPPAS software package, you can build real‑time detection, tracking, and classification pipelines with minimal latency.
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