Prince of Wales visits UWE Bristol to see pioneering robotic tech tackling societal health challenges

The Prince of Wales visited the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) at the University of the West of England’s (UWE Bristol) Frenchay campus today (22 January 2026) to learn about the pioneering robotic technologies being developed to help the ageing and disabled population maintain mental and physical wellbeing and remain independent for longer. 

Prince William met researchers and start-ups at the BRL, the most comprehensive academic centre for multi-disciplinary robotics research in the UK and a partnership between UWE Bristol and the University of Bristol, based at UWE Bristol’s Frenchay campus.  

During the visit, the Prince of Wales toured the facilities in the BRL including meeting the research team at the VIVO Hub for Enhanced Independent Living, which is led by the University of Bristol, bringing together advanced robotic and digital healthcare technologies to pioneer new approaches to ageing and assisted living.  

Carlos Cifuentes, Deputy Director of VIVO Hub and Associate Professor in Human-Robot Interaction at UWE Bristol, and Dr Andrew Conn, Professor of Robotics at the University of Bristol, along with researchers and PhD students, demonstrated some of VIVO Hub’s smart garments and exoskeletons that provide health monitoring, physical assistance and rehabilitation, helping to restore an active and independent life.  

This includes robotic clothing that can help to prevent falls, support people to get up from a chair, climb stairs and walk for longer, and assist in developing daily activities with independence.  

The Prince of Wales also met the founders of two start-ups working to improve the lives of people with disabilities and those living with dementia.  

Supersmith is a technology company changing the way the world thinks about mobility scooters, based within the BRL’s hardware incubator, a space for high-tech enterprises to commercialise their business. Two of its three founders, Tom Morgan and Emily Morgan, demonstrated Supersmith’s 3Scooter, a three-wheeled scooter using unique self-stabilising robotic technology. Its design reduces the risk of tipping while enabling users to sit at eye level with those around them, breaking down the social stigma of using a mobility scooter.  

Supersmith’s three founders have their own personal connection to the world of mobility. “We set out to improve the experience of living with a mobility scooter because of a close family member,” said Tom. “Listening to people’s stories showed us these challenges were shared nationwide. People aren’t avoiding leaving their home because they lack independence or ambition - for many people, a traditional mobility scooter just doesn’t make them feel good. With the help of our community, that’s what we are hoping to change.” 

Finally, Zeke Steer, founder of Milbotix, a start-up revolutionising dementia care through advanced wearable technology, spoke to Prince William about SmartSocks®, his product which tracks heart rate and motion to provide an insight into the wearer’s wellbeing and determine when a person with dementia is distressed.  

Zeke, a graduate of BRL’s joint PhD programme, started Milbotix after seeing his great-grandmother’s experiences of dementia and worsening agitation meaning she couldn’t be cared for by family. Zeke wanted to use technology to detect levels of distress in people with dementia that allows for quicker physical or psychological interventions, reducing stress for users and their caregivers.  

Milbotix is based at Future Space, an innovation centre combining workspace, R&D expertise and tailored business support for start-ups and fast growth businesses on UWE Bristol’s campus.  

Professor Darren Reynolds, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at UWE Bristol, said: “We’re so pleased to welcome the Prince of Wales to UWE Bristol’s campus today to see how our challenge-led approach can drive ideas from imagination to actual reality, leading to thriving start-ups within the Bristol Robotics Laboratory. These start-ups are addressing societal challenges that will improve people’s lives and power our economy.  

“Prince William has seen first-hand our thriving community of tech-minded and solutions-focused entrepreneurs and researchers, reimagining tomorrow through robotics and the power of AI. At UWE Bristol’s Enterprise Zone, we are supporting over 70 high-tech start-ups working collaboratively, a place where knowledge, research, ideas, talent and imagination collide.  

“Humans need the ability to reimagine - it brings us hope. We are in an exciting and pivotal moment for robotics and AI in the UK. We are now able to put technology at the heart of many solutions-focused endeavours to address some of the major challenges facing us all - be it healthcare, climate change or food security. Today, Prince William has been given a glimpse of tomorrow.”