VILNIUS TECH PhD research could change the future of robots

December 12, 2024
Automation is an inseparable part of the modern world, which is why the accuracy of robots is becoming an increasingly important factor in the practice in various fields, anything from industrial production to medicine. This fall, VILNIUS TECH alumnus Marius Sumanas, who earned his PhD, focused his doctoral research on reducing robot positioning errors using innovative machine learning methods.

This work not only reveals the solutions proposed by science but also opens up opportunities to improve older systems.

Accuracy – the foundation of modern automation

Dr. Sumanas chose the topic "Compensating robot positioning errors using deep Q-learning algorithm" due to its novelty and practical relevance. Moreover, the researcher believes his studies will contribute to significant changes in the field of automation.

In his dissertation, Dr. Sumanas examined the problem of robot accuracy. Mechanical wear, external forces, and environmental factors often lead to positioning errors, reducing the reliability of robot movements. Such inaccuracies can cause problems in manufacturing or medicine, where micron-level precision is a critical criterion.

"We, along with my team, developed a method that uses a combination of machine learning algorithms to help correct robot movements so that they are as precise and reliable as possible," says the young scientist.

The results of the dissertation promise not only practical benefits but also a significant contribution to scientific progress. The developed method is universal and can be applied in various fields that require extremely high precision.

"This research is a great example of how innovative technologies and artificial intelligence can solve real problems, improve processes, and contribute to building a sustainable future."

Errors are as unique as the robots themselves

Each robot and its operating conditions are unique, so it is essential to accurately identify and compensate for kinematic errors. As explained by the VILNIUS TECH alumnus, the dissertation aimed to create a system that would not only identify errors but also correct them effectively.

"During the experiments, we used a robot with special experimental equipment and inertial sensors to collect data on the robot's movements and their accuracy. The data collected was then processed using the deep Q-learning algorithm, which provided corrective coordinates enabling a significant improvement of the robot's accuracy," explains Dr. Sumanas.

The results confirmed that the deep Q-learning algorithm is effective in solving positioning issues. During the study, the error rate was significantly reduced, which opens up the possibility for broader application of this method in the future.

The researcher states that the application of such a method could not only improve the accuracy of new robots but also extend the lifespan of older systems. This would undoubtedly contribute to the development of automation and the more efficient use of older equipment.

Galerija

Related news

Naujas VILNIUS TECH elektroninis leidinys
Naujas VILNIUS TECH elektroninis leidinys
We are pleased to present the new VILNIUS TECH electronic publication „Vilnius: nuo laukinių miškų iki Rojaus sodo“ („Vilnius: From Wild Forests to the Garden of Eden“), edited by Associate Professor Giedrė Ingrida Laukaitytė-Malžinskienė of the Department of Urban Design. The publication showcases the outcomes of the autumn semester project carried out by third-year students in the Landscape Architecture programme at the VILNIUS TECH Faculty of Architecture. The project comprises a comprehensive analysis of a historic area of Vilnius and its surrounding context, the development of a territorial strategy, and individual proposals for the preservation and future use of the site. “The title of the project – Vilnius: From Wild Forests to the Garden of Eden – reflects the clear conceptual framework that guided our analytical work. We explored the notion of wildness in Vilnius in relation to the city’s spiritual and cultural development. As future landscape architects, we examined how natural landscape elements, urban transformation, and political processes have shaped the evolution of Vilnius’s cultural landscape. Saviour’s Hill, the Garden of Eden, Rojaus Street, Blind Alley, Schwarz Tavern, the School for Noble Girls, K. Brzostowski’s golden heart, mysterious wells, the communities of the Jesuits, Missionaries, and Visitandine Order, the 1863 Uprising, Russification, Sovietisation, and other historical factors have all influenced the territory we investigated. The study area is located between Rasų, Subačiaus, Vitebsko, and Drujos streets. It includes the present-day grounds of the Visitandine Monastery and Church, the adjacent hospice, the grounds of the American School (occupying the site of former historic gardens), Vilnius Correctional Facility (also located within the former historic gardens), and the historical territory of the former Garden of Eden, which currently remains open and undeveloped. Each student develops and presents an individual interpretation of their own ‘Paradise’, while the collective outcome of the group project lies in identifying the historical constants of the site and revealing the strengths and future potential of this currently underused territory. The project involved analysing the historical development of the site, changes in topography, and vegetation patterns. Drawing on historical maps, texts, and works of art, we traced the relationships between historic buildings and former gardens, documented both surviving and lost heritage elements, explored patterns of life across different historical periods, and examined visual connections, compositional axes, existing and former urban structures, as well as concepts of ecclesiastical heritage — all of which are presented in this publication,” writes Associate Professor Giedrė I. Laukaitytė-Malžinskienė in the introductory section of the publication. Electronic book (in Lithuanian)  >>>  
More
New doctoral dissertation
New doctoral dissertation
VILNIUS TECH Library invites you to follow the published new dissertations. The dissertation „Research and application of biofiltration materials in the purification of biogas from hydrogen sulfide“ prepared at VILNIUS TECH by Kamyab Mohammadi. The dissertation was prepared in 2022–2026. Scientific consultant – Assoc. Prof. Dr Rasa Vaiškūnaitė. The dissertation was defended at the public meeting of the Dissertation Defense Council of the Scientific Field of Environmental Engineering in the Aula Doctoralis Meeting Hall of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University at 10 a.m. on 15 June 2026. This dissertation analyzes the removal of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) from biogas via biofiltration. The study addresses one of the major challenges in biogas utilization, effective H₂S removal, since this compound is toxic and corrosive, and significantly reduces the operational efficiency and service life of biogas energy systems. The main object of the research is biofiltration materials intended for hydrogen sulfide removal from biogas: biochar produced from sewage sludge, cellular lightweight concrete (CLC) waste, and polyurethane foam (PUF). The doctoral dissertation aims to increase the efficiency of hydrogen sulfide removal from biogas and to enhance the operational stability of the biofilter by applying physically and chemically modified as well as unmodified waste-derived materials within the biofiltration process. The dissertation consists of an introduction, a literature review, chapters on methodology and results, general conclusions and recommendations, and lists of references and the author’s publications related to the dissertation topic. The Introduction presents the research problem and its relevance, describes the research object, formulates the aim and objectives, outlines the research methodology, scientific novelty, and practical significance of the results, and states the defended propositions. The First Chapter reviews biotechnologies for hydrogen sulfide removal from biogas, with particular emphasis on biofiltration mechanisms, the properties of biofilter packing materials, and the key factors determining process efficiency. The Second Chapter describes the experimental methodologies used to select biofiltration materials, determine their physicochemical and adsorption properties, inoculate and cultivate microorganisms, evaluate hydrogen sulfide removal efficiency, and the mathematically model the biofiltration process. The Third Chapter presents the results of theoretical and experimental investigations of innovative filtration materials, revealing the relationship between their properties and modification with microbial establishment, biofilm formation, and filter performance in hydrogen sulfide removal, and compares experimental results with mathematical modeling outcomes. Eight scientific papers related to the dissertation topic have been published: two in Web of Science-indexed journals with an impact factor, one in a Web of Science-indexed journal without an impact factor, four in other internationally indexed journals, and one in a conference proceedings volume indexed in the Scopus database. Seven presentations on the dissertation topic were given at national and international scientific conferences. Doctoral dissertation readers can search via VILNIUS TECH Virtual Library.  
More