ITS Campus, ITS News — The Barunastra research team from the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) has once again achieved a brilliant achievement that brings pride to Indonesia on the global stage. The ITS Barunastra team successfully defended its achievement by securing the Grand Champion title at the 2026 International RoboBoat Competition (IRC), held in Sarasota, Florida, United States, for six days, starting last Thursday (February 19).

Facing 36 teams from 10 countries, the ITS Barunastra Team performed impressively, sweeping the main categories. This autonomous ship research team successfully won first place in the Autonomy Challenge, first place in the Design and Documentation category, and the Best Technical Design Report award. These achievements make the ITS Barunastra Team the only team to dominate the core categories in this global autonomous ship competition.

This prestigious event is known as a showcase for the sophistication of Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASVs), or unmanned vessels capable of maneuvering and completing missions independently. Several global technology giants, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Queen’s University, and the Georgia Institute of Technology, participated in the competition, further strengthening the fierce competition faced by the ITS Barunastra Team.

This success is inseparable from the performance of the Nala Ares Mark II prototype ship, designed by the ITS Barunastra Team to answer this year’s competition theme, Storm Response: Technology in Action for Recovery and Relief. In the Autonomy Challenge category, the ship is required to be able to maneuver independently in a post-disaster simulation area, from navigating evacuation routes, avoiding dangerous debris, to delivering precision logistics without direct human control.

In addition to excelling in operational performance, the ITS Barunastra Team also captured attention through the quality of its design documentation, which was deemed comprehensive by the panel of judges. The integration of an intelligent navigation system, adaptive decision-making algorithms, and a proven software architecture were the main foundations of the team’s dominance in the competition.

Rudy Dikairono, ST, MT, the ITS Barunastra Team’s advisor, believes this achievement demonstrates ITS students’ global competitiveness. They face competition not only from within the country but also from leading universities in America, Europe, and Asia. “ITS students are capable of competing on equal footing with the world’s leading universities,” asserted Rudy, who accompanied the team during the competition.

Furthermore, Rudy highlighted the team members’ high level of enthusiasm and dedication to research and innovation. He believes the competitive and productive campus environment fosters students’ discipline and fighting spirit. “The students’ enthusiasm for research and innovation is extraordinary,” added the proud lecturer from the ITS Department of Electrical Engineering .

Rudy also hopes that the achievements of his team will serve as a stepping stone for broader achievements, not only in competitions but also in the development of sustainable maritime technology. “Hopefully, Barunastra will continue to bring honor to ITS and Indonesia,” he said hopefully.

Beyond these impressive achievements, the competitive experience also left a lasting impression on the team members. ITS Barunastra Team Leader Davin Abhinaya Briet explained that the competition focused not only on completing missions but also served as a learning platform for global collaboration in ASV development. “This competition isn’t just a competition; it’s also about building a community of ASV developers,” he said.

The journey to the Grand Champion title wasn’t easy. The team members made numerous sacrifices of time, energy, and thought throughout the long process. Davin expressed his appreciation for this achievement to all those who supported him. “Thank you also for the support from Ikoma ITS and all parties,” he said.

The Barunastra ITS Team’s achievements align with ITS’s commitment to supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically goal 9 on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure and goal 14 on Marine Ecosystems through the development of sustainable maritime technology. (ITS Public Relations)

Reporter: Iffah Najwa Ulya
Translator: Devinka Mutianeira