Gading Flying Field, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, became the center of attention when the 2024 Indonesian Flying Robot Contest (KRTI) entered its fourth day on September 16, 2024. One of the most anticipated moments in this prestigious event was the Racing Plane Division, which featured fierce competition among 24 of the best universities in Indonesia. Participants compete to create an aircraft that is not only fast, but also stable and precise in navigating a predetermined challenging course. With the theme “F.A.T (Fast And on Track)”, the competition tested the technical capabilities and speed of the flying robots on the challenging track. Qualifying took place on the first day, followed by the final round on the second day.
One contestant that caught the eye was Team Rejetion from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY). Led by Evandra Aryadinatha, the team has been participating since 2016, with a focus on developing the aircraft's electronic system that gets more sophisticated every year. “Every year the rules of the competition change, so we have to keep innovating to develop better technology and strategies,” said Evandra. An added advantage for Team Rejetion is that the race location is close to their campus, allowing them to take advantage of Yogyakarta's weather and wind conditions for research and testing. Full support from the university, including vehicle facilities, further facilitated their preparations.
The Racing Plane competition required Team Rejetion to not only prioritize speed, but also ensure stability and accuracy in every test run. Despite this, challenges remain, especially with the changing regulations and innovations that must be followed every year. Evandra hopes that this competition will continue to grow and become a place for students to spur creativity and innovation in the field of aerospace technology. “This event not only tests technical skills, but is also a place for new ideas that have the potential to revolutionize future aircraft technology. Hopefully more and more students will be inspired to enter the field of aviation and aircraft development,” he concluded.
The UNY Rejetion team consists of Evandra Aryadinatha, Abdul Zaid Fatullah, Hafidz Rafli Fadhillah, Johannes Arya Bhima Sena, Muhammad Arya Widiantoro, Nurul Afifah, Sema Auria Amanda Saputri, Rizki Farhan Firmansyah, Faidhullah, Singgih Yogo Pamungkas, Muhammad Emilul Fata, Aryo Bimo Pamungkas, Celvin Andra Maulana, and Rahmania Putri Nabila. They are mentored by Dr. Yuwono Indro Hatmojo, S.Pd., M.Eng., who hopes his team can give their best performance and bring home the title. Yuwono also mentioned that the construction of the Restek Building will further support students interested in robotics by providing more complete facilities to nurture prospective talents in the future.
In addition to the UNY Rejetion Team, the SI-LUDOVIC team from the University of North Sumatra (USU) also competed for the first time at the national level Racing Plane event. Although they have not made it to the final round, their achievement to be able to compete in the national arena is already a proud achievement. Bayu Muliyadi, representative of the SI-LUDOVIC Team, expressed his pride. “This is a very good first step for us, and this experience will be a valuable lesson for the next generation team,” he said.
With increasingly fierce competition and ever-evolving innovations, the Indonesian Flying Robot Contest (KRTI) is the perfect platform for students to hone their skills and creativity in developing innovative Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology.
