Drones Take Flight to Protect Schools with Campus Guardian Angel’s Grand Plan

A quiet school hallway can turn into chaos in seconds when a shooter emerges. In those precious moments, every second counts – lives are on the line before police can get there. Campus Guardian Angel, a Texas-based startup, has a plan to face this harsh reality head-on with a fleet of high-speed drones that can respond faster than any human.

Campus Guardian Angel’s system is all about speed. Drones are stored in bins around the school campus and can launch in 5 seconds of an alert. These aren’t your average hobbyist drones; they can fly down hallways at 30-50mph or 100mph outside. They’re equipped with sirens, air poppers, pepper spray guns and even the ability to ram an attacker with the power of a beanbag round – all to distract, disorient and maybe even incapacitate a shooter in under a minute. The goal is clear: slow down the attacker, buy time and save lives before law enforcement arrives.

What makes this work is the command center in Austin. Imagine 11 people – former military, SWAT veterans and professional drone racers – in a high-tech room. When an alarm is triggered – whether it’s a teacher’s app, a school camera or an existing security system – the team springs into action. They remote pilot the drones using a digital map of the school which is a virtual twin of every hallway and classroom. Live video and sensor data is streamed back to the operators giving them a real-time view of the threat. This is more than just engaging the shooter; it’s also providing real-time information to police so they can respond faster and smarter when they get there.

The drones are American made and designed for indoor use; they can blast through windows with a front lance and broadcast warnings through two-way speakers. Sirens blast to startle the attacker and air poppers – devices that make loud bangs – add to the confusion. In more dangerous scenarios, pepper spray weapons can blind a shooter’s eyesight making it hard to aim. As a last resort the drone can launch a “kinetic energy hit” – essentially turning itself into a missile to knock the attacker off balance. With all these capabilities and the ability to operate thousands of miles away, the system is a first responder.

Justin Marston, CEO and founder, brings a military tech perspective to the table, while co-founder Bill King, a 32 year Navy SEAL veteran, brings tactical expertise. Their concept is based on real world lessons, like King’s experience with hostage rescues and drone strikes which shape the system’s rapid response mentality. They’ve assembled a team that’s like a special operations unit with threat trackers and camera analysts to make sure no detail is missed. Marston calls it “having a SEAL team in the parking lot” ready to go if something goes sideways.

Cost is a consideration, but Campus Guardian Angel is affordable. Schools can get the service for $4 per child each month, and a box of 6 drones for $15,000 total. According to the White House, that’s a small percentage of the $17 billion schools spend on security personnel each year. It’s not meant to replace armed guards or police but to supplement them, as a force multiplier. Schools in Texas like Boerne ISD have already tested it in training exercises and districts in Florida will pilot it this fall.
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