It has been a busy few months here at ToadOps. We have been heads down building, testing, and improving ToadTurret out on the farm, and we wanted to share what has changed.

This is a small team project. It is just the two of us in Lowood, Queensland, trying to build something that actually works against cane toads. Every improvement on this list came from real-world testing in our own backyard. Here is what we have been up to.

Improved AI Detection

The biggest area of focus has been the AI that identifies cane toads. Getting this right matters. The device needs to reliably tell the difference between a cane toad and a native frog, a pet, or just a leaf blowing past the camera.

Here is what has changed:

• More training data. We have retrained the detection model using thousands more real-world images captured by ToadTurret units in the field. More data means better accuracy.
• Better night-time performance. Most toad activity happens after dark, so we have put a lot of work into improving detection accuracy in low-light conditions.
• Improved species distinction. The model is now significantly better at telling cane toads apart from native frogs and other small animals.
• Dual-layer verification. When connected to WiFi, the device runs its own on-device detection first, then sends the image to a cloud server for a second opinion. Two independent checks before any action is taken.
• Safety pauses. If either the on-device or cloud model detects something that is not a cane toad (a pet, a native frog, a bird) the system immediately pauses for 5 minutes. Safety comes first, always.

Mobile App Launch

We have launched the ToadOps mobile app for iPhone and Android. You can also use the web interface at app.toadops.com.au if you prefer.

The app lets you:

• Set up your ToadTurret device via Bluetooth. The setup wizard walks you through the whole process in about 10 minutes
• Connect your device to WiFi for cloud features, image uploads, and remote monitoring
• View your dashboard on the go, including recent sitings, activity log, and device status
• Manage your devices from anywhere

If you have not tried the app yet, head to the App Store or Google Play and search for ToadOps.

Dashboard Improvements

The online dashboard has had a significant overhaul. Whether you use the mobile app or the web interface, here is what you will find:

• Siting images. Every time ToadTurret detects a toad, it captures an image. You can review all your detections in the image gallery and see exactly what has been visiting your yard.
• Activity timeline. A clear log of what your device has been doing, including detections, safety pauses, connections, and more.
• Device health monitoring. See at a glance whether your device is online, when it was last seen, and its connection status.

Device Improvements

We have also been making changes to the device itself:

• Better camera settings for night-time operation, resulting in clearer images and more reliable detections after dark.
• More reliable WiFi reconnection. If your WiFi drops out (storms, router restarts, etc.), the device now recovers and reconnects more reliably.
• Automatic software updates. When connected to WiFi, your ToadTurret receives updates automatically. No need to do anything on your end. Your device just stays current.

What Is Coming Next

We are not slowing down. Here is what we are working on next:

• Multi-device support. If you have a larger property, you will be able to manage several ToadTurrets from a single account and dashboard.
• Detection statistics and trends. We want to give you a clearer picture of toad activity over time: weekly and monthly patterns, seasonal trends, and long-term data.
• Improved notifications. Better alerts when your device detects a toad, with options to customise what you get notified about.
• Community features. We are exploring ways to let users share siting data with local toad management groups and councils, contributing to broader cane toad tracking efforts.

These are all genuine features we are actively working on. No promises on exact timelines, but they are in the pipeline.

Get In Touch

We would love to hear how your ToadTurret is going. Whether it is working perfectly or you have hit a snag, your feedback helps us make it better.

• Got questions or feedback? Head to our contact page. We are always happy to chat.
• Interested in testing new features? We are always looking for beta testers, especially in the South East Queensland area. Get in touch if you would like to try things early.

Thanks for being part of this. We started building ToadTurret because we were sick of going out with a torch every night, and it is great to know that other people are finding it useful too.

The ToadOps Team