professor of mechanical engineering
priority research area: HealthTech
Scientific achievements
Professor Leszek Podsędkowski of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Lodz University of Technology specializes in robotics, mechatronics and medical devices. He has participated in 27 R&D projects, leading 13 of them, co-authored 22 patents and supervised 10 completed doctoral dissertations. He advances technologies from concept and prototype through validation and patent protection to licensing and implementation.
Research profile and directions
His main research focus is HealthTech, encompassing medical robotics, intraoperative metrology, clinical decision-support systems and artificial intelligence for medical image analysis. He co-developed the Polish RobIn Heart cardiac surgery robots, contributing to their mechanical design, drive systems, surgical instruments and control. His leading current achievement is NaviFast6D, a miniature orthopaedic measuring arm for intraoperative assessment of leg-length change and offset during total hip arthroplasty. The device integrates precision mechanics, MEMS sensors and estimation algorithms. Developed in cooperation with orthopaedic surgeons, it has undergone metrological and clinical validation, received patent protection in Poland, Europe, the United States and Japan, and been licensed to Robotic Medical Solutions. The technology helps reduce the risk of postoperative leg-length discrepancy and improve patients’ quality of life. Professor Podsędkowski also develops AI-based methods for automatic X-ray analysis and systems supporting hip and knee surgery.
His broader robotics research covers software for mobile-robot trajectory planning and perception, 6D localization in GPS-denied environments, spatial scanning and drone technologies. These solutions are also applicable to autonomous systems, industry and the energy sector.
Collaboration recognition
He conducts research with physicians, hospitals and industrial partners, addressing real clinical and technological needs. In 2026, he and his team received the Award of the Minister of Science and Higher Education for implementing NaviFast6D, which has also been recognized at international invention exhibitions. His future work focuses on accessible personalized-medicine technologies integrating robotics, metrology, imaging and AI, designed for clinical validation and implementation in international markets.