To address school shootings, an American company is selling drones operated remotely by human operators from a center based in Austin, Texas. Coordinated in real time with police forces, they aim to be a first line of response.
“Our CEO observed the effectiveness of first-person view (FPV) drones 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 AFP 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 embraced this initiative, Mr. Oborski points out.
According to a database from the IntelliSee portal, 233 incidents involving firearms were recorded on American educational campuses in the year 2025 alone.
– Non-lethal –
The company first maps a school in 3D to optimize intervention routes.
The drones are then installed in mini-hangars strategically positioned. The goal is to intervene anywhere in less than 15 seconds after the alarm is triggered, to reduce the latency period before the arrival of police forces.
“The type of intervention is determined by the actions of the suspect. If it’s a child walking in a hallway with a weapon, our mere presence could be enough to defuse the situation. Our drones are equipped with an audio system, allowing 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.
“On the other hand, if the individual is actively targeting children, we act immediately,” either by striking the assailant with the drone or using non-lethal pepper gel, he continues.
A strategy aimed at diverting the assailant’s attention and keeping 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 Piloting –
The teams consist of four pilots, including one responsible for liaising with the police, most of whom come from professional drone leagues.
“To be the ‘nerd’ working in the shadows to support the heroes of this world – those who protect us from lurking dangers – it’s a deeply gratifying experience,” says Alex Campbell, a 30-year-old drone pilot. “It’s immensely satisfying to contribute and assist these men and women on the ground, even though I’m just a technician not meant to be on the front lines.”
Offered in the form of annual contracts, the service’s cost varies depending on the size and layout of the facilities.
“The ideal scenario would be to install this system in absolutely all schools 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.
