Published: August 24, 2026
According to reports from the World Health Organization, more than one billion people—representing roughly 16 percent of the global population—live with some form of disability. For many of these individuals, physical impairments severely limit independent mobility and everyday interactions. Tackling these massive challenges does not always require multi-million dollar corporate research budgets. At the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, three remarkably talented high school students demonstrated that empathy, combined with smart embedded systems design, can produce revolutionary assistive technologies.
Recognized by the IEEE Foundation and IEEE Educational Activities, the IEEE Presidents' Scholarship honors pre-university students who demonstrate an exceptional grasp of electrical engineering, computer science, and robotics. This year's top honors went to three projects that leverage computer vision, neural networks, and advanced kinematics to restore movement, decode intent, and traverse hazardous environments. Here is a deep dive into the engineering, math, and hardware development behind these award-winning systems.
