Campus Guardian Angel wants to deploy pepper spray drones at US schools

The US start-up Campus Guardian Angel wants to deploy drones equipped with non-lethal weapons to schools in the USA in order to be able to respond more quickly to armed students who take hostages or start a massacre. The drones are to be equipped with pepper spray and stun grenades to incapacitate the attackers, reports Dronelife. It is to start in the US state of Texas.

In the last three years, more than 1,000 shootings have been recorded in US schools. The number is around ten times higher than in the previous decade, writes Campus Guardian Angel. Around 800 people have been injured or killed in these incidents. One in five pupils has already been confronted with gun violence at school.

Adjustments to the laws

Campus Guardian Angel wants to get to grips with this problem using drones. They are designed to track down assailants and incapacitate them with pepper spray and blinding grenades. They can also fly ahead of security forces in an operation and provide protection and information.

Schools do not want to rely on armed security forces alone. The pioneer for the use of the system is the US state of Texas, where armed security guards are already mandatory in schools. Now they are to be replaced by drones carrying non-lethal weapons. However, this will require changes to the drone laws. A corresponding bill, House Bill 462, has been introduced by Republican MP Ryan Guillen. It is probably also about saving on expensive security staff at schools.

To date, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 regulates the arming of a drone. Lethal weapons are therefore prohibited. However, drones can be equipped with weapons that are not intended to cause serious injury or death.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is not responsible for this, as the drones from Campus Guardian Angel are to be operated indoors, i.e. no national airspace is affected. Nevertheless, the company is currently in talks with the FAA. The aim is to clarify how the operation of its drones at schools can be ensured in accordance with existing federal and local laws.

Liability issues

The company is also working to comply with all drone laws in Texas. This includes addressing liability issues that arise when drones with non-lethal weapons are used in schools. This includes, for example, in which incidents the drones may be used legitimately and who takes responsibility for this. This could be private security guards or sworn police officers who also work for Campus Guardian Angel, provided the system is operated under a license.

The company is confident that their drone system can help maintain safety at Texas schools. Most people are killed in school shootings in the first 120 seconds. If an armed drone is on the scene, it could intervene immediately and save lives before the police even arrive.

If successful, Campus Guardian Angel plans to bring the system to other US states, provided the laws there allow it or can be adapted accordingly. Campus Guardian Angel has already demonstrated the basic functionality of the system in a pilot project with school authorities and the police in Boerne, Texas.

(olb)