Grade 12 students Allen Guo-Lu and Luotong Shi spent their final year at Western Canada High School creating wearable technology designed to help people with Parkinson’s disease avoid serious falls.

Their innovation is a battery-powered wearable “tail” equipped with sensors that detect when the wearer becomes unstable. The device then responds by acting as a counterweight, helping the person regain balance.

Guo-Lu was inspired to create the technology after volunteering in seniors’ homes, where he saw firsthand the challenges people with Parkinson’s face with balance and mobility. The design draws inspiration from how cats and other animals use their tails to stabilize themselves.

The students’ work has already earned significant recognition. In April, they presented their project, “Augmenting Balance and Spatial Awareness in Parkinson’s Disease: A Wearable Assistive Tail,” at the Calgary Youth Science Fair, where they received the University of Calgary Chancellor and Senate Award.

They went on to gain national recognition at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Edmonton, earning a Gold Excellence Award for outstanding achievement in STEM. They also received the Youth Can Innovate Grand Award, which recognizes projects that demonstrate exceptional innovation, scientific rigour, and strong potential to create meaningful change.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that primarily affects movement. According to Parkinson Association of Alberta, common symptoms include shaking (tremors), slowed movement, rigidity, and difficulty with walking and balance. These symptoms can increase the risk of falls.  

The students designed their technology to be adaptable, meaning it can be adjusted to meet different needs. It may benefit not only people with Parkinson’s, but anyone who needs extra support with balance.

Allen and Luotang’s project reflects the impact of sustained science learning throughout their K–12 education. As they graduate, they exemplify engaged thinkers and ethical citizens, who have engaged in disciplined inquiry to make discoveries and address real-world problems.

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The students appeared on CBC Radio’s Calgary Eyeopener to discuss their project.