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 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.

COTAK now has the ability to display the near real-time locations of Axon body cameras! This integration allows COTAK users on your agency’s channel(s) to see the location and the callsign associated with the camera on the map in any of the TAK apps. This integration does not provide live video from the camera, and is configurable to include the location of your officers whenever their camera is turned on, or to only include the location when the camera has been set in recording mode.

Like all COTAK integrations, Axon is offered free-of-charge to COTAK member agencies, though you will need to provide us with a key to your existing Axon account for our staff to set up the integration. Your agency administrator for Axon may follow the directions here to pull the needed information to set up the integration, which they can provide to the COTAK support team by filing a ticket to request the integration at cotak.gov/support.

Last week, CoE staff members Adrien Hoff and Brad Schmidt attended the 5x5 FirstNet conference in Seattle. 

Throughout the week, staff had the opportunity to learn about cutting-edge public safety technologies and network with experts from around the world. We presented on COTAK and demonstrated it to attendees, including the virtual reality TAK client, VR TAK. 

A new tool is now available in COTAK allowing multiple agencies to share their user’s locations and interoperate! This tool, called interagency channels, allows you as an agency administrator to invite other agencies to join your users on a common channel for interoperability. This option is in addition to traditional mutual aid channels that are permanently created by the COTAK program team for use by agencies within a county or region.

Interagency channels in COTAK works similarly to the patching of voice radio channels, but differs in that COTAK creates a new interagency channel for the patch using the membership of multiple ‘normal’ channels. To learn more about this exciting new feature watch our training video here. If you would like assistance setting up interagency channels contact our support team at cotak.gov/support.

On January 2, 2025, the Mesa County Search & Rescue (MCSAR) team received a call to rescue a trapped dog near Collbran, CO. This rescue was unique and challenging because the dog, named Tiny, was stuck on a mountainside with rugged and elevated terrain. Thanks to the Colorado Team Awareness Kit (COTAK), the MCSAR team was able to pinpoint Tiny's location, plan their rescue operations, and ensure the safe return of both Tiny and the responders. 

As daylight faded after a six-hour rescue mission, the responders utilized COTAK to identify a safe route back to the mountain base. They successfully reunited Tiny with her owners around 10 p.m., marking a successful collaboration with Mesa County Search and Rescue and COTAK.

This story illustrates that COTAK is truly a life-saving solution for both emergency responders and our furry friends. Continue reading below for the full press release from MCSAR. 

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Around 9 a.m. on January 2, 2025, Mesa County Search and Rescue (MCSAR) received a call to rescue a trapped tracking dog near Collbran, CO. The owners of the dog, named Tiny, advised MCSAR that Tiny had been tracking a mountain lion when she became stranded in the middle of a cliff face near the mountain’s summit 24 hours prior. Thanks to a GPS tracker on Tiny’s collar, the owners knew her approximate location, though realized it wasn’t somewhere they could safely reach her.

With Tiny’s approximate location known, the MCSAR team planned their rescue operations using the Colorado Team Awareness Kit (COTAK) to safely rescue her from the mountainside. However, the team quickly encountered challenging terrain, which slowed progress significantly. After some consideration, the MCSAR operations team determined that splitting the group into two teams would be more effective in finding a route through the many cliff bands that had halted progress toward Tiny’s location. A hasty team of three members, deemed Team 1, was sent to the east to try to find a break in the cliffs, while the larger group, deemed Team 2, attempted to find a gap to the west.

Over the next six hours, Team 1 carefully rappelled and climbed through the cliff bands, working toward the ridge top. They ascended several thousand feet from there before finally reaching the peak where Tiny had become trapped. After confirming Tiny’s location below, the team built a system to lower a rescuer down and retrieve her using a harness designed for dog rescue in technical terrain. At approximately 4 p.m., Tiny was raised back to the mountain's summit.

The celebration of Tiny's rescue from the cliff face was short-lived, however, as Team 1 had a new challenge: finding a safe route back to the mountain's base in diminishing light. Back at the base of the mountain, MCSAR operations team members were able to map out a different route in COTAK for Team 1 to follow. This new route took Team 1 across the other side of the mountain through snow-covered terrain, including multiple waterfalls that they rappelled off of with Tiny in tow. Due to Tiny’s diminished physical condition, Team 1 carried the dog for much of the trip. 

As Team 1 descended the mountain, MCSAR moved their staging location to the north side to gain better access to Team 1. Once relocated, Team 2 made their way up the mountain on horses provided and led by Tiny’s owner. They brought essential supplies - water and food - to replenish Team 1. Once the two groups united, the MCSAR members swapped places, giving Team 1 a much-needed break as they rode the horses the rest of the way down the mountain.

Tiny was reunited with her very thankful owners around 10 p.m., marking the end of a successful rescue mission. Every mission matters for Mesa County Search and Rescue, even if it’s Tiny.

Press release courtesy of Mesa County Search and Rescue

The COTAK team recently met with Aerial Fire Magazine to discuss how we are providing real time information to wildland firefighters and other first responders. 

CoE Deputy Director of Science and Research Dr. Bob Gann was recently featured on the “Smart Firefighting” podcast with a discussion on COTAK. Bob has been instrumental in building the cotak.gov website and user management system, and in this podcast he shares his insight on why COTAK was built and what our value proposition is to first responders in Colorado. If you have 20 minutes to spare the podcast episode is well worth a listen!

Apple Podcast Link 

Spotify Link