Mithril Defense, an Austin-based defense and security company, is promoting the use of drones to provide security at public schools in Texas.
The company is collaborating with various parts of the Texas legislature on permitting and funding to allow its drone services to be used in the state's public schools.
The drone services company expects to launch a pilot program in several of the state's top 10 school districts as early as next year.
A bill has been introduced into the State Legislature that would call for the use of UAVs to bolster security in Texas schools.
The bill, introduced by State Representative Ryan Guillen, would allow some schools to substitute drones capable of dispersing pepper-spray or other irritants, to take the place of an armed human guard.
It proposes an aerial device capable of providing less-lethal interdiction capability by means of air-based irritant delivery or other mechanisms for every 200 students enrolled at the district.
Mithril Defense is collaborating with an influential Texas lobbyist, who has held several roles in the administration of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, to sell the idea to legislators.
The bill would increase the per-student funding to pay for security measures to about $100.
Mithril Defense is being tight-lipped about the details of its plan to promote the use of security drones in Texas schools.
The bill's chances of passage in its current form are far from assured, as only a handful of the hundreds of bills proposed at the outset of every legislative session make their way into becoming law.