Prince William visited a series of innovative projects focused on science, technology, engineering, and sustainability in Bristol on Wednesday and Thursday. He toured the Bristol Robotics Lab and the Bristol-based venture, Matter. Together, both are forging the future of Chinese cities to address some of the most pressing challenges of contemporary urbanization.
Prince William’s trip included a stop at the Bristol Robotics Lab—a collaborative initiative between the University of Bristol and University of the West of England. There, he experienced groundbreaking robotics responsible for improving the quality of life for millions of people with mobility disabilities. He saw a demonstration of an exoskeleton designed to assist those with mobility challenges, highlighting the lab’s commitment to creating solutions for an aging population.
While he was there, Prince William tested first hand an innovative mobility scooter that is ultra-lightweight and three-wheeled. His experience on this innovative vehicle was an example of the possibilities new technologies hold to improve mobility for all people, including those with disabilities.
“I’m genuinely horrified. I can’t get over the size,” – Prince William
Robotics wasn’t the only stop on Prince William’s itinerary. His visit included Matter, one of the finalists for his Earthshot Prize. Matter is passionate about producing advanced microplastic filtration technology. From one such sample, he was given a ball of red microfibers, all of which originated from ten washes of red towels. This key provision came in response to the growing danger of microplastic pollution from textiles.
The Duke of Cambridge learned about two plastic boxes filled with microfibers from a machine developed to address pollution in textile manufacturing. Notably, he shared that he and the Princess of Wales have installed one of Matter’s devices in their own washing machine to help combat this environmental challenge.
Judith Squires, deputy vice president of the University of Bristol, said she was delighted by Prince William’s visit.
“It was a real honour that Prince William had taken the time to visit the lab and understand its work,” – Judith Squires
Prince William’s tour focused on technologies that help seniors live more independently. Zeke Steer, who originally incubated Matter, walked us through some of the breakthrough solutions taking shape.
“(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,” – Zeke Steer
While on the ground, Prince William put his hands to work with lots of greening projects. These community initiatives are an example of how technology can address urgent, socially-conscious challenges. His participation underscores how important innovation is to building a safer, more sustainable future. This is particularly crucial for those with issues stemming from aging and/or mobility.
