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🐀 YOLOv8 Real-Time Rat Detection and Tracking

This project uses a custom-trained YOLOv8 model to detect and track rats in video streams, compute the distance traveled, and generate visual analytics such as path plots and heatmaps.

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Application

✨ Features

• 🎯 Custom object detection using YOLOv8
• 🧭 Real-time tracking with dynamic path drawing
• 📊 Post-processing: path plots and heatmaps from detection logs
• 📐 Real-world distance estimation

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⚙️ Setup

1. Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/zamaex96/Animal-Tracking-YOLO.git
cd Animal-Tracking-YOLO

2. Install Git LFS and Pull the Model

git lfs install
git lfs pull

3. Create and Activate the Conda Environment

conda create --name yolo_rats python=3.9 -y
conda activate yolo_rats

4. Install Dependencies

pip install ultralytics opencv-python numpy scipy

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🚀 Usage

Run the Main Tracking Script

python scripts/track_and_plot_trail.py

Generate Post-Processing Visualizations

Smooth Path Plot

python scripts/plot_smooth_path.py

Heatmap Generation

python scripts/heatmap.py

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📥 Download the Application

The latest version can be downloaded from the GitHub Releases page.

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