Prince William made a trip to Bristol just recently. He was involved firsthand as an entrepreneur with many cutting edge pursuits that are leading the breakthroughs in science, technology, engineering and sustainability. His tour included a stop at the Bristol Robotics Lab. This facility is a partnership the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England. This visit further reinforced the vital role that innovation plays in tackling 21st century challenges — especially those that come with an aging society.
During his time at the Bristol Robotics Lab, Prince William engaged with key personnel, including Judith Squires, the deputy vice chancellor of the University of Bristol. Squires, deep in her thank-you curtsy, called the royal visitor “wonderful.” She added that it was a “real honour” for the lab to have the opportunity to show its work to him. This laboratory is famous for its cutting-edge technologies. These innovations are all about improving the mobility, safety and overall quality of life for seniors and others experiencing mobility challenges.
On these demonstrations, Prince William was introduced to a remarkable accumulation of red microfibres. These were all recorded from about ten washes worth of red towels. He observed two plastic boxes containing microfibres collected by a machine designed to address the growing issue of microplastics in textile manufacturing. This technology is one piece of a larger initiative to reduce the harm caused by the manufacturing of our clothing.
Prince William’s commitment to sustainability was evident as he shared that he and the Princess of Wales have fitted one of Matter’s microplastic filtration devices to their own washing machine. Matter, a former finalist for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize, is working on creating systems that can catch microplastics from laundry.
At the lab, Prince William got to try out a new prototype mobility scooter. He studied an exoskeleton meant to help people with mobility issues regain some movement. Our vice chancellor Judith Squires applauded the transformative power of these innovations. She added, “Shifting our focus to consider how we can enable people to live independent, dignified lives is going to be transformative.”
His visit was a testament to his genuine interest in how technology could be better harnessed to make and improve people’s lives. Upon seeing the lab’s advancements, he expressed his astonishment at the scale of the microfibre issue, saying, “I’m genuinely horrified. I can’t get over the size.”
In addition to robotics and mobility aids, the lab is developing various technologies tailored to meet the needs of an aging society. As these innovations continue to increase adoption, they have great potential for changing our care and support systems.