00:00The Prince of Wales tested a three-wheeled mobility scooter which uses unique self-stabilising robotic technology
00:08during a visit to an academic centre for robotics research in Bristol.
00:12His Royal Highness even joked that the scooter's four-mile-per-hour top speed was a little slow for him.
00:19Three wheels are better than four, and the reason being is that you can move very quickly
00:25and in short, tight spaces with three wheels, which you cannot do with four.
00:30And so our vehicle is for indoor and outdoor use.
00:33It helps you get through crowds. It's lighter and it's more compact.
00:37And so three wheels have great advantages.
00:38The problem is that three wheels typically tip.
00:43And so what we've done is develop this robotic patented technology
00:47that when you're going around corners, it will gently lean you into the turn.
00:52And when you're going over uneven ground or on a camber, which would typically tip you off,
00:57it helps keep you perfectly upright and stable and safe.
01:03At Bristol Robotics Lab, Prince William explored technology aimed at helping people stay mobile, healthy and independent.
01:11The Centre, a joint initiative of the University of Bristol and UWE Bristol,
01:17brings together over 500 researchers, students and entrepreneurs focused on robotics and AI.
01:23The Prince spoke with inventors observing how robotics and AI can improve the daily lives of older people
01:30as well as people living with disabilities, whilst fostering a thriving tech ecosystem in the region.
01:36The problem we're solving is to try and help people feel better about being out and about on mobility scooters.
01:43Firstly, we want to make sure they feel safe.
01:45And secondly, we want to make sure they feel good about it because mobility scooters, they are not loved generally.
01:53They are kind of quite heavily stigmatised and therefore people avoid using them if they can.
01:57Tom Morgan said the three scooter was inspired by his sister.
02:01So my sister was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when in her early 30s
02:05and we've kind of watched kind of all her challenges with those devices.
02:10They're super important to get people out of their homes and enjoying the world,
02:14but they don't provide a great experience.
02:16And so what we've developed is both a product and some kind of clever technology
02:21that changes that experience entirely.
02:24William also saw other innovations, including Vivo Body Bracers
02:29that support independent movement and Milbotics smart socks
02:33that track health indicators such as heart rate.
02:36Professor Darren Reynolds, pro-vice-chancellor at UWE Bristol,
02:41emphasised the broader impact of these start-ups,
02:43noting they tackle societal challenges whilst also driving economic growth through innovation.
02:49The Bristol Robotics Lab continues to develop technologies across healthcare, AI and robotics,
02:55supporting both academic research and commercial start-ups.
02:59Professor Darren Reynolds, pro-vice-chancellor at UWE Bristol,
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