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Kevin Tang seen an issue. Yearly, hundreds of thousands of individuals — particularly older adults — fall and get injured. Kevin determined to give you an answer. He invented a device to note these falls and get assist rapidly. 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, obtained the thought when his grandmother fell and harm herself. She lay on the ground till somebody found her, by which era she had everlasting mind injury. That may have been prevented if somebody had known as for assist sooner. Kevin determined to make a device that might sense if somebody like his grandma fell so their family members could possibly be alerted straight away.
The invention, known as FallGuard, goes on a wall in a room. It makes use of video and an algorithm that senses when somebody rapidly goes from a standing place to mendacity down. The gadget even works at nighttime! Kevin did analysis on completely different actions to coach the device. He obtained it to note the distinction between protected actions — like reaching down for an object or bending over to take a seat — and falling. He obtained assist safely testing it on a mat. “My dad and mom would fall within the different room,” he instructed Information-O-Matic, “and I’d test 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! Through the summer season of 2025, Kevin talked with a mentor from 3M named Mark Gilbertson. Kevin met Gilbertson nearly and stated the 3M engineer “helped me focus on my challenge and a few attainable 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 the US went to 3M in St. Paul, Minnesota, for the ultimate occasion within the Younger Scientist contest. The center schoolers met one another — and obtained to satisfy the mentors in particular person. “It was actually enjoyable having so many individuals enthusiastic about science identical to me across the total time,” Kevin stated.
Through the two-day occasion, the finalists offered 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 stated about successful. “I used to be shaking quite a bit 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 getting into the 3M problem. However he has created different innovations, equivalent to Homework Alarm, an internet site that alerts youngsters to lacking assignments. At college, he participates within the robotics membership and likes math class finest. Kevin stated the scholars at Cedarlane Academy had been “very supportive” and made a poster to congratulate him on his large win!
The younger inventor has recommendation for teenagers eager about making their very own innovations. “Once you begin on a challenge that you simply actually wish to do,” he stated, “maintain attempting to do your finest on that challenge.” He added:
“Even when you make errors or attain blocks, it is best to maintain attempting, be taught 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)
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