William tests a lightweight mobility scooter in Bristol

The Prince of Wales road-tested a lightweight mobility scooter at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory and saw other projects including microplastic filtration, a device from which he and the Princess have fitted to their washing machine.

The Prince of Wales visited several technology ventures in Bristol on Wednesday and Thursday. During the visits he road-tested a lightweight mobility scooter developed at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory. The lab is a joint enterprise between the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England and focuses on robotics and assistive devices. He also toured other projects working on microplastic filtration and advanced computing. What we know: - William tested a lightweight mobility scooter designed to improve user safety and to traverse rough surfaces such as cobbles and curbstones. - He said he owns an e-scooter and made a light-hearted remark that he likes ones that go fast. - The Bristol Robotics Laboratory is a joint venture of the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England. - The lab showed "smart socks" intended to detect rising distress in people with neurological conditions such as dementia, as described by the project's founder Zeke Steer. - He visited Matter, a developer of microplastic filtration systems, and the report said he and the Princess of Wales have fitted one of Matter's devices to their washing machine. - He was also shown Isambard-AI at the University of Bristol and visited NCC, which develops new composites and materials. Summary: The visits showcased technologies aimed at supporting independent living and addressing environmental issues in textiles. Demonstrations ranged from mobility and monitoring devices to microplastic filtration and advanced computing. Undetermined at this time.