Jember, ITS News — The Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) successfully defended its first-place title in the 2026 ABU Indonesian Robot Contest (KRAI) and won the Best Design award in the final round held at the University of Jember (Unej) on Sunday evening (July 12th). This impressive achievement ultimately led ITS to represent Indonesia at the international ABU Robocon 2026, which will be held in Hong Kong this coming August.
Before lifting the trophy, Team Richie, a robot developed by the ABU Robocon ITS team, had already overcome the host nation, Unej, in the semifinals. Their consistent superior performance was again demonstrated in the final, defeating Team Maestro Evo from Yogyakarta State University (UNY) by a score of 140.
Behind this achievement, ITS Richie Team Leader Muhammad Najmi Ihsan revealed that the robot’s performance is supported by several innovations. According to him, the communication system, artificial intelligence (AI)-based decision-making, and mechanical design were developed to ensure the two robots’ coordination. “We developed the entire system to ensure the two robots can coordinate precisely at every stage of the mission,” he explained.
Furthermore, Najmi explained that one of the advantages that distinguishes ITS’s robots from other teams is their light-detection-based inter-robot communication. Robot 1 (Triceratops) emits a light signal during the weapon assembly process , then Robot 2 (Rex) captures it through a light-dependent resistor (LDR) sensor to coordinate movements. “With this method, communication between robots continues even though regulations prohibit wireless communication,” he explained.
Furthermore, the ITS Mechanical Engineering student explained that this capability is supported by AI path planning and backtracking algorithms that operate at every decision-making point. These algorithms allow the robot to reevaluate its strategy when conditions deviate from the initial scenario, thus maintaining its chances of completing the mission.
Besides AI, Najmi believes that the Best Design Robot award was also supported by its distinct mechanical design compared to other participating teams. Rex features a three-axis arm mechanism, while Triceratops uses a forklift-like mechanism to lift the Kung Fu Scroll. “We adapted the design concepts of both robots to suit their respective missions so they complement each other,” he added.
According to Muhammad Lukman Hakim, ST, MT, the ABU Robocon ITS Team’s supervisor, the design also contributed to the robot’s consistent performance throughout the competition. He commended Richie’s team for consistently improving their performance from the first round to the final, despite encountering sensor issues during the quarterfinals. “Thank God, the team’s performance graph continues to improve with each match,” Lukman said proudly.
Lukman further explained that the success of his team hinged not only on the robot’s mechanical excellence, but also on its ability to develop strategies that adapt to the dynamics of the match. He believes the integration of electronics, programming, and game strategy was a crucial factor in the robot’s consistent performance and eventual championship victory.
By successfully defending their national championship title for two consecutive years, ITS’s Richie Team once again brings Indonesia’s hopes of competing in the Asia-Pacific robotics competition. This achievement also reflects ITS’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly point 4 on Quality Education and point 9 on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. (ITS Public Relations)
Reporter: Naurah Fitri
Translator: Devinka Mutianeira