A Startup Launched by Figure’s Creator Seeks to Utilize NASA Technology to Tackle School Shootings

In the year 2013, the U.S. recorded 26 reported incidents of school shootings, a number that dramatically escalated to 82 by 2023. It is evident that America is grappling with a severe problem of school shootings. However, the root causes and potential solutions for this crisis are a subject of deep division. This issue has turned into one of the nation’s most contentious debates, with proposals for resolution varying widely—from enforcing stricter gun control laws and enhancing mental health services to increasing security measures and arming educational staff.

The noticeable increase in these tragic events has given rise to a new sector of technology startups aimed at tackling this challenge. Companies such as ZeroEyes offer AI-based imaging monitored by authorities, Centegix provides a panic alert system, and Evolv Technology produces scanners. Nonetheless, their effectiveness has been scrutinized and questioned by eminent research organizations including Johns Hopkins University.

Cover, founded by Brett Adcock of Archer and Figure AI, believes it has discovered an innovative solution. The company’s strategy, while similar to traditional security measures like metal detectors in monitoring school entrances, involves using advanced technology. By mounting a pair of its devices at a school’s entry, it scans individuals passing through.

What distinguishes Cover is its proprietary technology, initially developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which it has exclusively licensed for use. Impressively, Cover operates out of Pasadena, California, with several former JPL staff members joining its ranks.

Brett Adcock likened the technology to the full-body scanners used in airports, albeit much more sophisticated and accurate. According to him, Cover’s system enables distant scanning up to 15 feet away, allowing for seamless and speedy processing. “It’s akin to airport full-body scanners, but our technology is significantly more potent and precise,” Adcock shared with TechCrunch.

Nevertheless, this comparison raises concerns, particularly regarding privacy, a hot topic given the invasive nature of similar technologies in the past. In response to privacy concerns, particularly regarding minors, the TSA had to enhance its full-body scanners with privacy protections in 2019—a hurdle that Cover may also face.

Adcock reassures that Cover’s system is designed to focus solely on identifying a specific list of potential threats, such as firearms, knives, and explosives, using AI monitoring rather than human observation. “The system is designed to respect privacy, eschewing the storage or logging of personal data entirely and concentrating purely on threat detection,” he emphasized.

Upon detecting a potential threat, the system generates a cropped image of the suspicious object for school administrators to review.

The adoption of this technology will depend on individual schools and districts, which will have to navigate concerns around consent and available alternatives. The system’s accuracy in distinguishing between actual threats and innocuous objects will be crucial.

Adcock also remarked on the technology’s precision in differentiating between harmless items like squirt guns and genuine threats. “The difference in materials—metal versus water, for example—should enable accurate identification, helping to eliminate false positives,” he stated.

Like his previous venture, Figure AI, Cover is a self-funded initiative by Adcock, who has invested approximately $2 million into the startup thus far.