On 29 January 2026, the Doctoral Conference Novus Scientia 2026 was held, focusing on the presentation of research results of doctoral students from faculties of mechanical engineering and related faculties of technical universities and higher education institutions. The conference provides PhD students with the opportunity to present the results of their scientific research, discuss them in a broader context, establish cooperation between departments and individuals with related research interests, and thereby improve the quality of scientific research at the doctoral level. The conference is held under the auspices of the Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Technical University of Košice, Dr. h. c. mult. prof. Ing. Jozef Živčák, PhD., MPH.

The conference focuses on the following topics:

• Automation, Mechatronics, and Robotics

• Technological and Materials Engineering

• Management, Industrial and Digital Engineering

• Design and Process Engineering

• Special Engineering Processologies

On behalf of the Department of Industrial Automation and Mechatronics, the following contributions were presented:

• Ing. Ondrej Majerčák – Detection of compressed air leakage using compressor energy consumption analysis

• Ing. Jaroslav Romančík – Non-contact temperature measurement of SMA materials

• Ing. Leo Brada – Design of educational tool for PID motor control

• Ing. Dárius Rusiňák – A Data-Driven Forward Kinematics Model for a Tendon-Driven Continuum Robot Using MLP-Based Regression

In Section A, Ing. Jaroslav Romančík received a diploma for the best paper.