LipLoft

🏅 2019 Health & Regenerative Medicine Hackathon

LipLoft is an assistive technology project developed during the 2019 Health and Regenerative Medicine Hackathon. The system enables hands-free drone control using puff-and-sip (PIF & PUFF) input through the LipSync interface. The team developed open-source software that translates breath-based commands into real-time drone control, allowing users with severe mobility limitations to fly a drone independently.

Demo

Impact

The LipLoft system was shared with individuals living with quadriplegia in British Columbia who expressed a strong desire to experience drone flight independently. By removing the need for hand-based controls, the project demonstrated how accessible interfaces can restore agency, creativity, and engagement through technology.

LipLoft drone control system demonstration
LipLoft team at the 2019 Health Hackathon
Assistive drone control using puff-and-sip interface

Why It Matters

LipLoft highlights the importance of inclusive design in engineering. By combining robotics, real-time control systems, and human-machine interfaces, the project demonstrates how emerging technologies can be adapted to meet the needs of underrepresented users. It serves as a strong example of how rapid prototyping and interdisciplinary collaboration can translate empathy into impactful, real-world solutions.

References

LipLoft - Skills & Technologies

  • C/C++
  • Python
  • Embedded Systems
  • Human–Machine Interfaces
  • Assistive Technology
  • Puff-and-Sip Interfaces
  • Real-Time Control Systems
  • Drone Control
  • Robotics
  • Signal Processing
  • Open-Source Development
  • System Integration
  • Rapid Prototyping
  • Hackathon Development
  • Team Collaboration
  • Git
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