Tracking

ATAK will display all locations of users on the same network or users connected on the same TAK Server. If users are not on the same network or TAK server, they will not appear on the map.

Each user is assigned a callsign that can be edited in the ATAK settings. The user’s location is displayed as an arrow and is encompassed by a blue circle which represents the error bound. The error bound represents the uncertainty of the location. To decrease the size of your error bound, users should set their location.

Other users will be distinguished from the current user by a colored gumball icon.

Improving Tracking

There are a few ways to improve user location.

Obtain Excellent Inertial Status by walking around in an area with good GPS with the EUD having a clear view of the sky, or if under threat, perform a 3 point check-in by using the Set Location button to update location to a landmark. Walk 15 meters between set locations to obtain better inertial status.

Set Location Soldiers can set location at any time to improve the location, but if the soldier incorrectly sets location, it will negatively impact the location accuracy.

UWB Drop Beacons can be placed tactically to create an area of initialization or dropped as bread crumbs to extend PNT in GPS denied areas. When a beacon is dropped, it takes the location of the user that dropped it, so the dropped beacon can only be as good as that location. Users can set location before dropping a beacon to get better accuracy.

Person-to-Person UWB sharing is used to send a location constraint from one user to another. Typical use cases include a “navigator” that has a better location than others on the team and can “share” their location data with others. This better location might be the result of a more recent or more accurate GPS fix or a more recent position update from any constraint.