To address school shootings, an American company is marketing drones operated remotely by human operators from a center based in Austin, Texas. Coordinated in real-time with law enforcement, they are intended to be a first line of response.
“Our CEO saw the effectiveness of drones in first-person view (FPV, which immerse the pilot completely as if he were in the cockpit, Editor’s note) on the battlefield in Ukraine. This led him to rethink how to introduce this system to address a growing problem in the United States: school shootings,” explains Khristof Oborski, director of tactical operations at Campus Guardian Angel.
The company is implementing pilot programs in several schools in Florida and Georgia, funded by local authorities. In Houston, Texas, even parents have taken up this initiative, Mr. Oborski explains.
According to a database from IntelliSee, 233 incidents involving firearms were recorded on American educational campuses in just the year 2025.
– Non-lethal –
The company first maps the school in 3D to optimize intervention routes.
The drones are then installed in mini-hangars positioned at strategic locations. The goal is to intervene anywhere in less than 15 seconds after the alarm is triggered, in order to reduce the latency time before the arrival of the police.
“The type of intervention is determined by the actions of the suspect. If it’s a child walking in a hallway with a weapon in hand, our mere presence could be enough to defuse the situation. Our drones are equipped with an audio system, which allows us to communicate with the suspect and give instructions, such as ‘Hey! Drop that weapon, we don’t want any harm to come to you,’ explains Mr. Oborski.
Conversely, if the individual is actively targeting children, we immediately take action, either by striking the attacker with the drone or using a non-lethal pepper gel,” he continues.
The strategy aims to divert the attention of the assailant and keep them under surveillance until the police arrive.
“Does this system work thanks to artificial intelligence? Our answer is no: there is no AI involved here. This precision reassures many people, especially when they discover that the operators we employ are elite professionals, handpicked – simply the best experts,” observes Bill King, co-founder of the company.
– From “Nerds” to pilots –
The teams consist of four pilots, one of whom is responsible for liaising with the police, mostly from professional drone leagues.
“To be the ‘nerd’ who works in the shadows to support the heroes of this world – those who protect us from the dangers that await us – is a profoundly rewarding experience,” says Alex Campbell, a 30-year-old drone pilot. “It’s a great satisfaction to be able to contribute and help these men and women on the ground, even if I’m just a technician who isn’t meant to be on the front line.”
Offered in the form of annual contracts, the cost of the service varies depending on the size and configuration of the establishments.
“The ideal scenario would be to install this system in absolutely every school in the United States… and never have to use it. Because it has a real deterrent force,” concludes Bill King, a former member of the Navy Seals, the US Navy’s special forces.
Published on May 15 at 3:52 PM, AFP.
