The Technology Behind ToadTurret
AI-powered detection meets practical engineering to protect Australian wildlife.
Smart Detection
ToadTurret watches the area in front of it using a camera illuminated by white light. Every few seconds, the captured image is analysed by AI. On ToadTurret, the initial analysis runs on the device, with detections sent to the cloud for confirmation when an internet connection is available. ToadTurret Lite uses the cloud for all AI analysis and requires an internet connection.
The model has been trained on thousands of real cane toad images from Australian properties. It identifies toads by shape, size, skin texture, and appearance, even in low light. When a toad is detected with high confidence, the system activates its spray mechanism.
We chose white light over infrared because it gives the AI much better colour and texture information, which translates directly into more accurate identification and fewer mistakes.
Safety First
Before any action is taken, the detection goes through a verification process designed to protect native wildlife and pets. On ToadTurret, this uses two layers when connected to WiFi:
Layer 1: On-Device
The device's own AI model identifies the target. This is the first check, running locally for fast response.
Layer 2: Cloud Verification
When connected to WiFi, the image is sent to a cloud server running a second, independent AI model trained to catch things the first model might miss.
If the cloud model detects a non-toad animal (a native frog, a pet, a bird) the system immediately pauses to let the animal move away.
No AI is perfect. There is always a small possibility of misidentification and we are constantly working to improve accuracy. The system is designed to err on the side of caution: when in doubt, it does nothing.
Precision Targeting
Once a toad is confirmed, ToadTurret uses a servo-controlled nozzle to deliver a brief spray.
The nozzle aims at the detected toad to limit spray coverage. The system tracks the toad's position in the frame to adjust its aim. You can fine-tune the targeting window via the app or web dashboard to suit your particular setup.
Connected Intelligence
When connected to WiFi, every detection is captured as a photo and uploaded to the ToadOps cloud. Your dashboard shows:
- Recent sighting images with AI confidence levels
- Activity timeline (detections, safety pauses, system events)
- Device status and health monitoring
Device Setup
The ToadOps mobile app and web interface make device setup straightforward. Connect to your device via Bluetooth from your phone or a Bluetooth-enabled computer, then follow the WiFi setup steps. WiFi is optional for ToadTurret and required for Lite.
Open app.toadops.com.au to view your dashboard, detections, and device status. For access to the iOS or Android app, contact us.
AI Updates
You can report misidentifications from the dashboard. We review reported images and use them to train future versions of the AI model.
New model versions are tested and validated before release. Updates reach ToadTurret over its internet connection and Lite through the cloud models it uses.
Interested in ToadTurret?
Check out the store or get in touch to learn more.