Overview
- Lawmakers approved $557,000 in state funding to test the system in the three districts as a step toward determining a broader rollout.
- The nonlethal drones use piercing sirens, bright lights and loudspeakers, with options to deploy pepper spray or ram a shooter to disrupt an attack.
- Drones are prepositioned on campuses and guided remotely from an Austin operations center using a digital twin of each school, with the company targeting five-second activation and 15-second contact times.
- The pilot integrates with Alyssa Alert silent panic alarms that connect directly to law enforcement for a coordinated response.
- Districts plan to start at a single school, likely a high school, while evaluating effectiveness and vendor-estimated costs of $4–$8 per student per month before considering expansion.