Inspired by His Grandparents, High Schooler Invents Crosswalk System That Adapts to Pedestrians' Speeds

Jay Jung, an 18-year-old high school senior, created SmartBlink, an adaptive traffic light system that adjusts signal timing based on pedestrian walking speed rather than fixed intervals, earning first place in the Behavioral and Social Sciences category at the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair with over 1,700 finalists from 60 countries.

The system detects assistive devices with 90–95% accuracy; real-world implementation in cities requires coordination with policymakers and tech companies, which Jung is actively pursuing.