How VOLT works
From a moment on camera to the right person on your team
VOLT is built to notice moments: a fall, a possible fight, someone where they shouldn't be. When one of those moments shows up on a school camera, VOLT surfaces it, and the staff you choose get a clear notification that names what was seen and where. A possible gun or knife is one of the moments VOLT looks for. So are the ordinary, unplanned moments that can happen on a campus: a possible fight at lunch, a person on the roof after the building has closed.
The goal is simple. VOLT is about getting the right people to the right place at the right time, so the adults on your campus can act on what they see.
Explore: Safety and privacy · The people behind VOLT · VOLT for schools · Pricing
The path
Notice, notify, the right people
Notice
VOLT looks at the video for moments that match what your school has asked it to watch for: two students squaring off, someone in a closed building, a possible gun or knife in view of a camera. VOLT does not put a name on anyone. When a moment matches, VOLT notes what was seen and where, and passes it on. Noticing is the job of the software; deciding what it means is a job for people.
Notify
A VOLT reviewer checks a moment by default before staff are notified. VOLT sends the notification to the people on your plan. The alert names what was seen and where; the email and the VOLT app show the camera view.
The right people
Your school decides who hears about what. An after-hours roof notice might go to the facilities lead and the overnight custodian. A possible fight at lunch might go to the assistant principal and the campus supervisor on duty. A possible gun or knife might go to the administrator team and the safety lead on your plan. Bystanders can freeze in a hard moment; read more in When Students Freeze. A clear notification to the right adult helps close that gap.
Anatomy of an alert
What staff receive.
- a possible fight or a person on campus after hours
That is the notification: what was seen, and where.
What VOLT looks for
What VOLT looks for, and what it doesn't
| Moment | Example on a school day | Who is told in an example plan |
|---|---|---|
| a possible fight | Two students squaring off | Assistant principal, campus supervisor |
| a person on campus after hours | Someone on campus after the building is closed | Facilities lead, custodial staff |
| Possible gun or knife | An object that looks like a gun or knife in view of a camera | Administrator team and safety lead on your plan |
What VOLT does not do
- VOLT does not use facial recognition.
- VOLT does not put a name on anyone.
- No concealed-object detection. VOLT only flags what a camera can see.
- No decisions on your behalf. VOLT surfaces a moment; your people decide what happens next.
For more on how footage and data are handled, see Safety and privacy.
Example scenarios, not customer stories.
What it looks like on a school day
Two students squaring off by the lockers
The hallway outside the science wing has cleared out. Then two students stop near the lockers and square off, and a few others drift over to watch. The camera at the end of the corridor sees a group drawing in around the two of them. VOLT notices the moment, and a notification about a possible fight goes to the assistant principal and the campus supervisor on duty, naming "Science wing hallway" as the location. They can decide whether to step in, bring in another adult on their plan, or both.
Someone on the roof after hours
On a weekend evening, a camera on the gym catches a person climbing onto the lower roof. This is a moment the school asked to hear about after hours. A notification about a person on campus after hours goes to the facilities lead and the custodian on call, naming the gym roof as the location. They can decide whether to go look, call the contact on their plan, or both.
Look-alikes
Look-alikes
Cameras can see things that look like something else for a moment.
| Looks like | What it actually is | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| A possible gun on stage | A theater prop during rehearsal | Can be set aside |
| A possible gun in a hallway | A costume piece on spirit day | Can be set aside |
| A possible gun on the playground | A toy | Can be set aside |
| a possible fight | Friends play-wrestling or a PE drill | Can be set aside |
At Indian Creek School, an alert led staff to a student who needed help. At Aspen Academy, a 3D-printed pocket knife and a Nerf gun both raised alerts. Neither carried ill intent, and both became conversations about school safety.
For a closer look at the people behind VOLT's review, see The people behind VOLT.
Your plan, your rules
Your plan, your rules
Your school decides which moments matter and who hears about each one.
Examples. These plans show the idea. They are starting points, not defaults.
A small school
- School day: possible fight goes to the head of school and the front office.
- After hours: possible person after hours goes to the facilities lead.
- Possible gun or knife: goes to the head of school, the front office and the safety lead at any hour.
A district
- Each campus has its own list: the principal, assistant principals and campus supervisors for school-day moments.
- After-hours moments at any building go to district facilities and the custodian on call for that building.
- Possible gun or knife at any campus goes to the campus administrators and the district safety office.
A large campus with events
- Weekends: possible person after hours on rooftops and loading docks goes to facilities and grounds.
- Residence and library areas: possible person after hours goes to the building lead on duty.
Cameras and systems
Cameras and systems
Existing IP cameras can connect over RTSP.
| Requirement | What to know |
|---|---|
| Camera brands | Works with existing IP cameras |
| Sign-in | SAML SSO |
| Safety platforms | CENTEGIX |
VOLT works with CENTEGIX, so moments from VOLT can sit alongside your existing safety tools. Staff sign in with your school's single sign-on through SAML SSO.
Rollout
Rollout, step by step
Your plan is not fixed after launch. You can change who hears about what as your school learns what is useful.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Does VOLT use facial recognition or identify students?
No. VOLT does not use facial recognition. VOLT does not put a name on anyone. More detail is on Safety and privacy.
Who decides who is notified?
Your plan sets who on your staff gets each notification. Details are on The people behind VOLT.
Can VOLT see a gun under clothing or in a bag?
No. VOLT detects possible handguns, long guns, and knives visible to the camera. VOLT keeps visually tracking a person by appearance after they've been identified with a visible weapon, even once the weapon is hidden. See gun and knife detection for more.
What does a notification look like?
VOLT can surface a possible fight or a person on campus after hours.
Will we get false alarms?
Cameras can see props, costumes, toys and shadows. Those can be set aside so your staff hear about moments that are worth their attention.
Does it work with our cameras?
Existing IP cameras can connect over RTSP. A camera compatibility review confirms the specific setup.
What systems does VOLT connect to?
VOLT works with CENTEGIX and supports SAML SSO for staff sign-in.
What about security audits?
VOLT has had a clean SOC 2 result for three years running.
How does VOLT handle district data privacy agreements?
VOLT works with districts to meet the highest data privacy agreement standard each district sets.
Does detection get better over time?
VOLT's models learn from the environments they're deployed in.
How is VOLT priced?
VOLT is priced per camera stream per month. See Pricing or talk with our team.