General Manager of the Barunastra ITS Team Taib Izzat Samawi (three from left) with his team after winning the 2025 International Roboboat Competition (IRC) in the US

ITS Campus, ITS News —The Barunastra Team of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) again made a brilliant achievement by winning first place at the prestigious International Roboboat Competition (IRC) 2025. Teams from various countries attended the competition at Nathan Benderson Park, Florida, United States, and it became a prestigious event for world maritime technology innovators.

This year’s IRC 2025 theme was Environmental Monitoring, and the Barunastra Team successfully dominated teams from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Michigan, the Kyushu Institute of Technology, and others. The competition tested the ship’s robots in six key missions, including Navigation Channel, Race Against Pollution, and Rescue Deliveries, with accuracy being the deciding factor.

Barunastra ITS 2025 Team General Manager Taib Izzat Samawi said his team won first place in the Autonomy Challenge category, outperforming 30 other teams participating in this event. This is the sixth time the Barunastra ITS Team has won the world title at the IRC event. “In this category, the assessment is based on how capable the ship is in moving automatically and completing the completed missions,” Taib explained.

Nala Ares ship was owned by the Barunastra ITS Team while completing the Navigation Channel mission at the International Roboboat Competition (IRC) 2025 event in Florida, USA

In addition to the Autonomy Challenge category, the team competed in the Design Documentation category, which assesses ship technology research and innovation. The Barunastra ITS team won second place in this category, which proves the team’s technical quality and research in facing modern maritime challenges.

In this world-class event, the Barunastra ITS Team presented Nala Ares, the latest robotic ship to undergo various technological innovations. According to Taib, the boat has a lighter hull design with carbon fiber material, allowing for more optimal buoyancy and maximum protection of electronic components. The cutting-edge propulsion system also makes the ship more precise in maneuvering.

Another advantage, Taib continued, lies in the more sophisticated propulsion system and more efficient electrical system. Nala Ares can improve space efficiency and modularity by using two central Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs), namely the Power PCB and the Controller PCB. “In addition, the software architecture is designed to be simpler, utilizing perception, cognition, and behavior modules to ensure better system integration in performing automated tasks,” he explained.

(From left) Arundaya Pratama Nurhasan, Muhammad Lukman Hakim ST MT, M Farras Rheza Firmansyah, Alifa Hikmawati, M Andi Abdullah, and Taib Izzat Samawi as the Barunastra ITS Team while preparing to participate in the IRC 2025 event with the Nala Ares robot ship design

Taib emphasized that the success of the Barunastra ITS Team was supported by the guidance of Electrical Engineering Department lecturer Dr Rudy Dikairono ST MT, other coaches, namely Muhammad Lukman Hakim ST MT, and Muhtadin ST MT, as well as sponsors. In addition, careful preparation carried out for months is also a crucial factor. “We have undergone a series of trials since last December to ensure the ship’s system works optimally; this is the main key to our performance in the competition,” said Taib.

The success of the Barunastra ITS Team in IRC 2025 is in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 14, namely the goal to maintain the health of marine ecosystems and utilize marine resources sustainably. The innovation of the Nala Ares robot ship supports monitoring and preserving the aquatic environment through autonomous technology, which aligns with the environmental monitoring theme. The Barunastra ITS team also hopes this contribution can encourage more environmentally friendly and sustainable maritime solutions.

The Nala Ares ship that was able to bring the title at IRC 2025, Florida, USA

The victory further strengthens Barunastra ITS’ position as a leading team in global maritime technology competitions. Taib hopes this achievement can inspire Indonesia’s young generation to innovate in technology development. “We want to prove that Indonesia has extraordinary talents who can compete internationally,” he concluded proudly. (ITS Public Relations)

Reporter: Nabila Rahadatul Aisy Koestriyaningrum
Translator: Lael Soebakir