COTAK News

The Android version of TAK (ATAK) has been updated to version 5.6 in the Play Store. As part of this update ATAK now has the ability to use Google’s location services to locate you, in addition to the device’s internal GPS chip. Activating this feature will improve ATAK’s ability to locate you inside buildings or dense urban areas where GPS signals are degraded. Note that iTAK has an equivalent capability enabled by default, so iTAK users do not need to take any action!

Due to ATAK’s extensive use in the military this feature is not enabled by default. To turn it on users should open ATAK, then tap on the three stacked lines in the top right corner of the app to open the tool list, then tap on “Overlays.” In the Overlay Manager that appears scroll toward the bottom of the list and tap on the “Location Input Manager.” 

In this new tool is a list of the possible sources of location data for ATAK. The “WiFi/Cell Signal Derived (NETD)” option is new, and may be checked on to improve ATAK’s location accuracy, as it uses Google’s location services to improve your positioning similar to many other smartphone apps. 

Users should leave the “Internal GNSS/GPS Receiver” option checked as well, as this allows the app to use both types of technologies to locate you as accurately as possible. When these settings are applied and GPS is lost, ATAK will begin relying on the network signal to locate you, and a special message will appear in the bottom left corner of the app (see attached screenshot). Note that the bottom options in this tool refer to military GPS units and may be left unchecked. 

The COTAK Program Team invites you to save the date for the 2026 COTAK Summit, scheduled for Tuesday, July 7, 2026, through Thursday, July 9, 2026. 

The event will take place at the Copper Mountain Conference Center, located in the heart of Copper Mountain Center Village at 184 Copper Circle, Frisco, CO 80443.

At the COTAK Summit, you can expect to gain hands-on experience with the latest COTAK tools, hear real-world success stories from champion agencies, and connect with leaders driving innovation in public safety. With live demonstrations, training sessions, and networking opportunities, this event offers a unique chance to learn and collaborate, paving the way for a stronger future in public safety.

Registration for the COTAK Summit will open in January 2026, and we will accept registrations from 250 guests on a first-come, first-served basis. Once we reach this capacity, sign-ups for the event will close. Be sure to mark your calendars for January 2026 to secure your spot!

In Spring 2026, the COTAK Program Team will release an agenda outline with more detailed information on breakout sessions and speakers. For now, you can view the latest event details and information on our website at cotak.gov/summit

The COTAK Program team is excited to announce the release of a series of training videos on the Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) tool. The UAS tool is a free plugin for the Android version of TAK (ATAK) that enables you to fly many common drones using ATAK and share information on the real-time location of the drone and even its camera stream with other COTAK users.

Part one of the training covers the installation of ATAK and the UAS tool software on a drone controller (or smartphone), and the process of configuring a drone and flying it using the UAS Tool.

Part two of the training covers the process of live streaming the drone’s video to other COTAK users. The COTAK team offers a live video server which routes the drone’s video stream to other users with minimal lag, and this video details how drone pilots can create a new stream using the CloudTAK user interface, how to enter stream information into the UAS Tool, and how to initiate a live stream. 

As always, our team is here to support you. If you need further assistance with UAS Tool or other drone integrations, please submit a support ticket, and one of our team members will be happy to assist you.