About RIFBristol

A connected setting

Industry and research in direct contact

Located within the Bristol Robotics Laboratory at the University of the West of England, RIFBristol brings researchers and industry into direct contact with current and new users of robotic technologies.

The facility sits in the Enterprise Zone at UWE Frenchay Campus, creating a practical setting for learning, experimentation and engineering trials.

Contact RIFBristol

The Robotics Innovation Facility sits within the Bristol Robotics Laboratory and acts as a point of contact between academic researchers and the organisations that are putting robotic technologies to work in practice. Rather than keeping innovation behind closed doors, the facility welcomes businesses, entrepreneurs, researchers and public sector bodies who want to see automation options first-hand, try them in a working environment and judge for themselves which route makes sense for their own processes and challenges.

The facility is equipped with a range of robots, vision systems and other items of automation, arranged so that visitors can observe how different technologies behave rather than simply read about them. Visitors can watch systems handle tasks, explore how sensors and software interact with mechanical and electronic hardware, and ask engineers the questions that arise once robotic equipment is being considered as part of a real production line or research programme.

Support goes beyond demonstration. The team advises on capital purchases, manufacturing improvements and practical routes into advanced manufacturing, helping clients trial technical solutions, compare available options and make informed decisions about robotics and automation. A modern workspace designed for learning, experimentation and engineering trials allows organisations to test ideas, overcome technical hurdles, stand apart from competitors and build the confidence needed to commit to longer-term automation and product development plans.