OmniHUD

An open-source ATAK plugin for viewing and controlling HUD (Heads-Up Display) devices via USB-C cable.

Overview

OmniHUD enables ATAK integration with HUD devices like ECOTI, allowing real-time tactical data display directly in night vision and thermal optics. This plugin communicates via USB-C to send position, waypoint, and tactical information to compatible HUD hardware.

Features

• USB-C HUD Communication: Direct connection to HUD devices
• Real-time Data Streaming: Send ATAK data to HUD displays
• ECOTI Support: Optimized for ECOTI integration
• Position Overlay: Display user position and heading
• Waypoint Navigation: Send waypoints and routes to HUD
• Contact Information: Display nearby teammates and contacts
• Open Source: Enable other manufacturers to integrate

Hardware Compatibility

• ECOTI: Via USB-C adapter (https://www.reddit.com/r/NightVision/comments/1oj7oiq/)
• Additional HUD devices can be added via open-source contributions

Screenshots

OmniHUD Dashboard

The plugin integrates directly into ATAK with a dashboard featuring:

• Real-time HUD connection status
• USB device selection and management
• Connect/Disconnect controls
• Data streaming configuration
• Device status preview

Dropdown Menu with Readable Text

Dropdown menus with optimized black-on-white text for maximum readability

Requirements

• ATAK Version: 5.4.0 or newer (CIV/MIL)
• Android: 5.0 (API 21) or higher
• Hardware: USB-C capable Android device
• HUD Device: Compatible heads-up display unit

Installation

1. Download the latest APK from Releases
2. Install on Android device with ATAK installed
3. Enable plugin in ATAK Settings → Plugin Management
4. Restart ATAK
5. Connect HUD device via USB-C

Usage

Connecting HUD Device

1. Connect HUD to Android device via USB-C
2. Grant USB permissions when prompted
3. Open OmniHUD from ATAK toolbar
4. Select your HUD model
5. Enable data streaming

Data Configuration

Configure what data streams to your HUD:

• Position: Own location and heading
• Waypoints: Active navigation points
• Contacts: Nearby teammates
• Routes: Planned paths
• Markers: Map markers and POIs

Development

Building from Source

git clone https://github.com/engindearing-projects/omni-HUD.git
cd omni-HUD
./gradlew assembleCivDebug

Adding New HUD Devices

OmniHUD is designed to be extensible. To add support for a new HUD:

1. Implement HUDDevice interface
2. Add USB VID/PID to device registry
3. Implement data formatting for your protocol
4. Submit pull request

See CONTRIBUTING.md for details.

CoT Message Format

OmniHUD sends data using standard Cursor-on-Target XML format:

<?xml version='1.0'?>
<event version='2.0' uid='...' type='a-u-G' time='...' stale='...' how='h-g-i-g-o'>
<point lat='39.2' lon='-77.0' hae='121' ce='9999999.0' le='9999999.0' />
<detail>
<contact callsign='CALLSIGN'/>
<status readiness='true'/>
<!-- Additional tactical data -->
</detail>
</event>

Architecture

• USB Communication Layer: Android USB Host API
• CoT Parser: Standard TAK CoT message handling
• Device Abstraction: Pluggable device drivers
• Data Filter: Configurable data selection
• Format Converter: Device-specific output formatting
• Event System: ATAK MapEventDispatcher best practices

ATAK Best Practices

This plugin follows official ATAK best practices for map event handling:

• ✅ Event-Driven Updates: Uses MapEventDispatcher instead of polling for efficiency
• ✅ Proper Listener Management: Event listeners are registered and cleaned up properly
• ✅ Push/Pop Pattern: Tools use listener stack for exclusive event handling
• ✅ Item Tracking: Real-time COT item tracking via ITEM_ADDED/REMOVED/REFRESH
• ✅ Memory Leak Prevention: All listeners cleaned up on disposal

See ATAK_BEST_PRACTICES.md for detailed implementation guide.

Contributing

We welcome contributions! This project is open-source to enable broad HUD compatibility across manufacturers.

Areas for Contribution

• Additional HUD device support
• Protocol optimizations
• Data visualization improvements
• Documentation
• Testing with different hardware

See CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.

License

MIT License - See LICENSE for details

Credits

• Hardware: ECOTI USB-C adapter by j@engindearing.soy
• ATAK SDK: TAK Product Center
• Community: Thanks to r/NightVision for testing and feedback

Support

• Issues: https://github.com/engindearing-projects/omni-HUD/issues
• Discussions: https://github.com/engindearing-projects/omni-HUD/discussions
• Reddit: r/NightVision

Links

• ECOTI HUD Adapter: https://www.reddit.com/r/NightVision/comments/1oj7oiq/
• TAK.gov: https://tak.gov
• ATAK Documentation: https://tak.gov/products/atak

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