Episode 282: How TAK Started and Where It’s Going with Ralph Kohler

How did TAK become a widespread, indispensable tool for military and civilian first responders?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!

In this episode:

• How TAK got started and its evolution

• Insights on the open ecosystem that’s allowed TAK to grow

• Why machine learning and shared data are the next frontier

Hear from Ralph Kohler - the Principal Engineer/Senior Advisor at Air Force Research Laboratory.

Ralph shares the story behind TAK: how it started as an idea during early deployments in Afghanistan and grew into an ecosystem now used around the world. He walks through the decisions that made TAK what it is today, including the importance of open intellectual property, community-driven development, and real-world feedback. 

The conversation covers key moments in TAK’s evolution, how it's bridging military and civilian use cases, and why shared tools like TAK can unlock innovation across sectors. Ralph also offers a grounded perspective on where the ecosystem is heading next—from machine learning to augmented reality.

So take a listen to hear what he has to share! 

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