Kevin Tang seen an issue. Yearly, thousands and thousands of individuals — particularly older adults — fall and get injured. Kevin determined to give you an answer. He invented a instrument to note these falls and get assist shortly. On October 14, the 13-year-old gained the 3M Younger Scientist problem for his invention!
Kevin, an Eighth-grader at Cedarlane Academy in Hacienda Heights, California, received the concept when his grandmother fell and damage herself. She lay on the ground till somebody found her, by which period she had everlasting mind harm. That may have been prevented if somebody had referred to as for assist sooner. Kevin determined to make a instrument that might sense if somebody like his grandma fell so their family members may very well be alerted immediately.
The invention, referred to as FallGuard, goes on a wall in a room. It makes use of video and an algorithm that senses when somebody shortly goes from a standing place to mendacity down. The machine even works at the hours of darkness! Kevin did analysis on totally different actions to coach the instrument. He received it to note the distinction between protected actions — like reaching down for an object or bending over to take a seat — and falling. He received assist safely testing it on a mat. “My mother and father would fall within the different room,” he instructed Information-O-Matic, “and I’d verify my laptop to see if it detected the autumn or not.”
Kevin despatched a video of his invention to the 3M Younger Scientist problem. In July, he was chosen as a finalist! In the course of the summer time of 2025, Kevin talked with a mentor from 3M named Mark Gilbertson. Kevin met Gilbertson just about and mentioned the 3M engineer “helped me focus on my challenge and a few doable subsequent steps for it.” For instance, Gilbertson labored with Kevin on including a characteristic to forestall falls!
In October 2025, Kevin and 9 different finalists from throughout america went to 3M in St. Paul, Minnesota, for the ultimate occasion within the Younger Scientist contest. The center schoolers met one another — and received to fulfill the mentors in individual. “It was actually enjoyable having so many individuals enthusiastic about science identical to me across the complete time,” Kevin mentioned.
In the course of the two-day occasion, the finalists introduced their innovations to the competition’s judges. On October 14, officers from 3M introduced Kevin because the winner — awarding him a $25,000 money prize and the title of America’s High Younger Scientist! “It was actually thrilling, and I couldn’t consider it,” Kevin mentioned about successful. “I used to be shaking so much in entrance of the stage once I went up, and it was simply actually completely satisfied and actually thrilling.”
This was Kevin’s first time coming into the 3M problem. However he has created different innovations, akin to Homework Alarm, a web site that alerts youngsters to lacking assignments. At college, he participates within the robotics membership and likes math class finest. Kevin mentioned the scholars at Cedarlane Academy had been “very supportive” and made a poster to congratulate him on his massive win!
The younger inventor has recommendation for youths excited about making their very own innovations. “If you begin on a challenge that you simply actually need to do,” he mentioned, “maintain making an attempt to do your finest on that challenge.” He added:
“Even should you make errors or attain blocks, it is best to maintain making an attempt, study from them, and repeat over and over till you get the factor you need.”
By Diana Richard
Up to date October 24, 2025, 5:00 P.M. (ET)
