13-year-old named ‘America’s Top Young Scientist’ for fall detection invention

The eighth grader received US$25,000 for his invention, developed after his grandmother suffered a fall at home that left her with permanent brain damage.

Kevin created FallGuard, a home monitoring device that uses video analysis to accurately detect falls and immediately notify caregivers. According to research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the leading cause of injury among one in four older adults annually, affecting over 14 million people.

"America's Top Young Scientist" Kevin Tang. Photo courtesy of the awarding body 3M

"One of my friend’s grandfather, who lived alone in another state, fell at home too, and his family didn’t find out until the next day," Kevin explained in an interview with The Street. "Because of this, I just realized how important this problem was, and how millions of families each year face this same risk."

FallGuard stands out from other devices on the market because it is mounted on a wall, eliminating the need for wearables that users often forget to charge. The system can recognize falls with high accuracy, even at night, and provides continuous monitoring. The algorithm Kevin developed analyzes video footage to detect falls and irregular movements, which could indicate a stroke, according to 3M, the awarding body.

Kevin’s father, Yang Tang, shared with USA Today that his son has always had a passion for inventing and experimenting with "strange stuff" at home. Initially unaware of Kevin’s work on FallGuard, Yang recognized its potential when Kevin showed him the project. "We definitely will make this product to help them all," Yang told his son.

Kevin aims to keep FallGuard affordable for families in need. The current cost of materials for one device is approximately $90, but he is working to reduce the price to $30 by optimizing the design. Since winning the national science fair, he has received interest from security camera companies, and many families have expressed interest in using the device to ensure the safety of their loved ones.

Currently, the Tang family uses FallGuard at home, and another family has adopted the system as well. Kevin has over 10 families on a waiting list and is eager to expand the device’s availability to help many more families in the future.