ITS Rector Prof Dr Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng gives a speech at the grand launching and release of the ITS Bayucaraka Team which will take part in an international competition in Singapore

ITS Campus, ITS News – Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) has another opportunity to show its fangs in international robotics. After the Barunastra roboboat team, the Bayucaraka ITS flying robot team is ready to participate in the 2023 Singapore Amazing Flying Machine Competition (SAFMC) international competition in Singapore. Through the Grand Launching and Release of the Bayucaraka ITS 2023 Team, the Bayucaraka ITS team officially launched its latest robot in the front yard of the ITS Rectorate Building on Friday (17/3).

Robots in the form of three drones named Soero Alpha, Soero Beta, and Soero Airon and four new remotes displayed at this launch were launched directly by ITS Rector Prof Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng. The three autonomous-based robots will be brought to fight in two of the eight categories, Semi-Autonomous (D1) and Autonomous (D2), in neighboring countries on March 25 – April 1, 2023.

The three latest drones from the Bayucaraka ITS team, namely Soero Alpha, Soero Beta, and Soero Airon, were officially launched by ITS Rector Prof Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng (right)

Through his remarks, Ashari expressed his pride for the Bayucaraka ITS team that has prepared everything it needs to face this prestigious competition. “Based on last year’s achievements and the careful preparation of Bayucaraka, we are optimistic that this team can bring the first-place trophy,” said the 2023 Obsession Award recipient confidently.

In preparing for the prestigious competition, Bayucaraka ITS sent six representatives from the Soeromiber team. Ashari said that the ITS family would also like to congratulate all team members who will fly to bring the good name of ITS and the Indonesian nation into this international arena. “Discipline, patience, and a good strategy from the team are the keys to this race,” Ashari encouraged.

Thoriq Akbar Maulana, Head of the ITS Bayucaraka Team, who will compete in the Singapore Amazing Flying Machine Competition 2023 international competition, reports on his team’s readiness.

Thoriq Akbar Maulana, Chairman of the Bayucaraka ITS Team, explained the competition held by SO National Laboratories and Science Center Singapore and supported by the Singapore Ministry of Defense is one of the prestigious competitions that is Bayucaraka’s primary target. “The three trophies that we got last year are still not optimal, which we will improve in this year’s battle,” he said optimistically.

Two of the three robots carried this time are the Swap Drone type. Both are connected and work together to complete the mission of moving the ball to a predetermined target. This type of drone uses autonomous technology that does not involve human touch to move it. Meanwhile, the other drones were designed to lift pin bags and paperclips with more difficulty than the previous year.

The Bayucaraka ITS team demonstrated two autonomous drones in completing the race mission in front of the ITS Rectorate Building courtyard.

Furthermore, Thoriq added that in this race, Bayucaraka ITS brought the latest innovation in technology that was different from before. Using a type of remote with a motion sensor that can detect hand movements will later be transformed to run the drone. “In addition, there is also a type of remote that can detect hand movements through the camera and then translate to move our drone,” said the Marine Transportation Engineering student enthusiastically.

One member of the mechanical division, Epindonta Ginting, explained that the difficulties faced by the team in developing this robot were found in the fully autonomous type. “There were many problems during training, so we need to do trial and error more often to increase points in the race,” Epin explained.

One of the Bayucaraka ITS team members, while preparing one of the drones that will perform the demonstration

The activity, attended by several ITS leaders and several media crews, was closed with a demonstration of the vehicle for vertical take-off launching. Namely with flight trials of two autonomous drones that completed the mission perfectly.

To achieve the first place title, the Bayucaraka team has conducted research and training since last year so that the team’s readiness and proficiency of the drone robots to be flown can be achieved. “Through all the preparations that have been made, we hope that the first-place target can be achieved easily,” Thoriq concluded. (ITS Public Relation)

Reporter: Lathifah Sahda