Prince William visited the Bristol Robotics Lab on a recent tour, where he engaged with cutting-edge technologies aimed at improving mobility for those facing challenges. We’d set up a test ride on an innovative lightweight mobility scooter with three wheels that make it easy to maneuver, helping users to get around more independently.
The Duke of Cambridge saw an exoskeleton created to help people who can’t walk regain mobility. This unique new technology, featuring gigantic battery packs, offers unparalleled assistance to users, allowing them to move and live more freely than ever before. This visit represents Prince William’s ongoing commitment to advancing innovation and technology to promote healthy and active aging. He is especially committed to developing solutions for people with disabilities.
In addition to the mobility innovations, Prince William explored Matter, a company recognized as a former finalist for his Earthshot Prize. Matter is an innovator of microplastic filtration systems in the new environmental niche of microfibres from textiles. On his tour he got to see a ball of red microfibres that were collected from about ten washes of red towels. He inspected two plastic boxes containing microfibres captured by a machine specifically designed to tackle this issue within textile manufacturing.
Prince William’s connection to Matter extends beyond observation, as he and the Princess of Wales have installed one of the company’s devices in their own washing machine. This personal commitment is a testament to how seriously they take their sustainability and environmental responsibility.
The Bristol Robotics Lab represents a collaborative effort between the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England. The innovations created in that lab address problems associated with an increasingly aging society. This is a testament to the lab’s dedication to pushing the envelope in science, technology, engineering, and sustainable practices.
Judith Squires, deputy vice president of the University of Bristol, said she was “honoured” to welcome Prince William. She said it was “a great privilege.” She was explicit about the importance of helping people lead proactive, dignified lives and how those kinds of efforts can be game changing.
During his visit, Prince William got to experience a world of different technologies. He was especially interested in smart textiles that sense increasing levels of agitation in people with dementia. Zeke Steer elaborated on this advancement: “(The socks) detect rising levels of distress that a person with dementia may have, giving carers a window of opportunity to alleviate that distress before it escalates.”
Prince William’s exploration of these groundbreaking technologies in Bristol highlights his ongoing commitment to addressing societal issues through innovation and sustainability.