Kopcińska has already constructed a prototype of the anti-viral piece of furniture, as part of a successful defence of her master's thesis, Poland's PAP news agency reported.
Thanks to the innovative project, she has now graduated from the Kraków University of Technology with a major in automation and robotics, according to the pk.edu.pl website.
For all its futuristic aura, the chair is actually a simple, off-the-shelf object made of wood and textiles, "not like a robot at all," Kopcińska said.
It disinfects itself through UVC radiation each time the user stands up, with the seat and the back of the chair carried on rollers past a cleaning unit.
Kopcińska noted UVC radiation was an effective disinfectant, yet human skin and eyesight must be protected from its impact, which is reflected in the design of the chair. Moreover, the progress of the disinfection process can be monitored on an OLED display screen.
The anti-viral chair, hailed by one expert as "highly practical," may be especially useful in public places such as hospitals, schools, trains and airports, "and not just during the pandemic," Kopcińska said.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, pk.edu.pl