Minister gets glimpse into the future on visit to robotics lab
BUSINESS secretary Greg Clark visited Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) at UWE last week as part of a visit to Bristol to mark the first anniversary of the launch of the government’s Industrial Strategy.
The minister toured the lab and met BRL senior leaders during the visit.
He viewed BRL’s assisted living laboratory; nuclear decommissioning suite; driverless car workshop; robotics innovation facility; and hardware incubator, learning more about how the lab is addressing technological challenges and supporting businesses in new and emerging sectors.
The MP also learned how academics are providing technology to investigate issues surrounding the introduction of connected autonomous vehicles and creating technology for the safe dismantling of nuclear assets scheduled for decommissioning in the UK.
He was also briefed about the university’s ‘enterprise ecosystem’, where research, teaching and enterprise are brought together to create new businesses and supply chains.
Mr Clark’s visit to the lab at the university’s Frenchay campus fol- lowed a business event at We The Curious science centre, where business leaders were told about what the Industrial Strategy has achieved so far - and its aims for the future.
Among the speakers was Praminda Caleb-Solly, professor of assistive robotics and intelligent health technologies at BRL.
Chris Melhuish, BRL director and professor, said: “It was a great pleasure to host the Secretary of State at the laboratory and highlight our work.
“BRL enables dynamic start-ups within a culture of innovation, where academic excellence, cutting-edge research and enterprise converge, in this new and emerging field of robotics and autonomous systems.”
Mr Clark added: “Bristol Robotics Laboratory is a fantastic example of world-leading robotics research here in the UK.
“Supported through our modern Industrial Strategy its transformative research has the potential to contribute towards many lives in the future - from human-robot interaction to self-driving cars and unmanned aerial vehicles to medical and rehabilitation robotics - putting us at the forefront of the industries of the future and the social benefits they can provide.”