Overview
TLDR:
- A Texas startup is piloting security drones capable of confronting school shooters in 15 seconds using pepper spray, flash-bangs, and ramming techniques.
- Despite promising rapid response times, the drones are unable to breach locked doors like those at Uvalde’s Robb Elementary.
- Currently, 500 drones are being tested across various schools in four states until early February.
- Critics raise doubts about the effectiveness of remote operators who may be located far away from the incidents.
A Texas-based company is experimenting with compact security drones aimed at addressing school shootings before law enforcement can arrive. However, some experts argue that this technology does not adequately address the issues faced during the tragic events at Uvalde.
Campus Guardian Angel is conducting a pilot program involving 500 drones deployed in schools located in Florida, Texas, Colorado, and Washington D.C. The Austin-based firm charges approximately $9,000 for three drones that can be operated remotely via live video feeds.
“We’re building the SEAL Team Six of school safety,” stated CEO Justin Marston. “It’s akin to having a SWAT team on standby without incurring significant costs.”
The drones are designed to engage shooters within 15 seconds and incapacitate them within 50 seconds using sirens, pepper spray balls, flash-bang grenades, and ramming maneuvers.
However, firearms trainer Laura Carno pointed out that these drones cannot penetrate locked doors—a critical limitation highlighted by the May 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School that resulted in the deaths of 19 students and two teachers.
“A killer can continue to shoot through distractions,” Carno emphasized.
The state of Florida has allocated $557,000 for three districts to evaluate these drone systems following reports of over 60 school shootings since 2018.
