FLORIDA \u2013 Florida education officials are exploring a new, high-tech approach to school safety \u2014 one that involves drones designed to respond faster than any human could during an active shooter situation.<\/p>\n
A company called Campus Guardian Angels, led by Austin-based CEO Justin Marston, has developed nonlethal drones capable of confronting a shooter within seconds of a threat being detected.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe key thing with what we\u2019re doing is we put the drones on site already \u2014 just like the sprinkler system is there already,\u201d Marston said. \u201cBecause we\u2019re there already, we can respond really fast. Our goal is to respond in five seconds and be on the shooter in 15 seconds.\u201d<\/p>\n
Each drone is equipped with nonlethal deterrents, including piercing sirens, bright lights and loudspeakers to command suspects to surrender. If necessary, the drones can release bursts of pepper spray or even ram into a shooter to disorient or disable them until law enforcement arrives.<\/p>\n
Marston said his team, made up of former Navy SEALs, SWAT officers and elite drone pilots, monitors crises in real time from an operations center in Austin, Texas. There, coordinators use a \u201cdigital twin\u201d of each school, allowing them to guide drones through the building remotely during emergencies.<\/p>\n
Drone Defense promo graphic (WJXT)<\/p>\n