Schools in three US states are introducing pepper-spraying drones capable of ramming into attackers as part of a new security initiative. The technology is being rolled out under the Campus Guardian Angel program, with pilot schemes currently active in Florida, Georgia, and Colorado.
The deployment follows decades of gun violence on US campuses. According to The Washington Post, more than 398,000 students have experienced such violence since the 1999 Columbine High School shooting. Justin Marston, founder and CEO of Mithril Defense, stated that the 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, inspired him to accelerate the project.
How the drones operate
The drones are piloted by elite human operators who can control them from thousands of miles away. Once an alert is issued and a response team confirms the threat is credible, the devices launch into action. They are designed to engage a shooter within 15 seconds and distract the attacker until authorities arrive.
Equipped with speakers for two-way communication, the drones can interact with shooters, students, and staff. They deploy air poppers to create loud bangs and fire pepper balls. The manufacturer claims the aircraft can also deliver kinetic energy strikes by ramming into targets at speeds of up to 70 mph. They are capable of weaving through the air to avoid gunfire and can fly through windows not coated with ballistic film using a front lance.
The company states its goal is to escalate effects in waves of three or four drones to keep the shooter occupied. The devices remain airborne for about eight minutes on a single battery charge and operate at 900 MHz. Campus Guardian Angel, based in Austin, Texas, manufactures its own aircraft and firmware.
Pilot programs and funding
In Florida, the Department of Education confirmed last year that the Broward, Leon, and Volusia school districts would participate in the pilot program. Deltona High School in Volusia County had devices installed earlier this year and will use 39 drones for the upcoming school year. Other participating schools include Amos P Godby High School in Leon County and Boyd H Anderson High School in Broward County. A $557,000 scheme involves Deltona and two other schools.
Reports on the number of participating schools in Georgia differ. Campus Guardian Angel confirmed that five school districts agreed to participate, with $550,000 allocated by the state legislature. However, other reports cite a lower figure of at least four schools. The identified institutions include Coffee County High School in Douglas, Gainesville High School in Gainesville, River Ridge High School in Woodstock, and Statesboro High School in Statesboro.
In Colorado, the technology is being rolled out at John Adams Academy. Sarah Kiesewetter, head of the academy, noted that while they might be the first school in the state to look at this technology, they will not be the last.
Concerns and criticisms
The initiative has drawn criticism from safety advocates. Curtis Lavarello, CEO of the School Safety Advocacy Council, questioned whether the drones could inadvertently target fleeing students or law enforcement officers, suggesting that the deployment resembles an overlap between gaming and school safety, though the company maintains its systems are designed to distinguish threats.
Tony Montalto, whose daughter Gina was killed in the 2018 Parkland shooting, argued that the focus should be on prevention rather than reaction. Meanwhile, Deputy Trevor Autrey, a resource officer at Deltona High School, said the program provides another set of eyes and ears for areas of the campus he cannot see all the time.
Khristof Oborski, tactical operations director and former Austin police SWAT team leader, said the concept was inspired by the use of small drones on battlefields in Ukraine following Russia's 2022 invasion. He noted that co-founder Bill King observed the effectiveness of drone technology during the war and considered how to introduce similar systems to combat school shootings in the United States.