ITS Rector, Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng, delivers his remarks at the launch of Nala Proteus Boat and the release of ITS Barunastra Team

ITS Campus, ITS News – The Barunastra Team of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) is ready to compete and make more achievements at the International Roboboat Competition 2023 in Florida, USA. At this time, the roboboat team that ITS proud of is ready to compete using its newest boat, Nala Proteus, which officially launched at the ITS Rectorate Building courtyard on Tuesday (14/3).

The newest roboboat was launched directly by ITS Rector, Prof Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng. The Barunastra team will compete against the others from the well known universities in the world on March 22-28.

In his remarks, Rector Ashari expresses his support for ITS Barunastra team, which had won four times at the same event. “It is such an extraordinary effort from ITS students. I am sure that ITS Barunastra team can be the winner for the fifth time,” he said optimistically.

General Manager of ITS Barunastra Team, Fariz Rayyan Januar (left), describes the Nala Proteus Boat to ITS Rector, Prof Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng (right)

In order to prepare for the competition, which will be held for seven days in a row, the Barunastra team has been training since the end of 2022 to get maximum results. “We added several innovations, including boat propulsion and embossing,” said the General Manager of ITS Barunastra Team, Fariz Rayyan Januar.

Rayyan added that there were still deficiencies in the boat’s embossed hull on previous ones. A thin distance between the water and the boat’s hull can endanger its electrical components.

The new boat from Barunastra team is expected to be able to solve previous problems by broadening the distance between the water and the boat’s hull.

ITS Barunastra team demonstrates the Nala Proteus Boat performance on the pool in front of ITS Rectorate Building

Besides, some changes in the boat’s vessel can also be seen in its propulsion system. The propulsion system owned by the Nala Proteus Boat uses a system with greater thrust and torque than the previous one, Barunastra Boat.

“By having this propulsion system, our newest boat can go up to 5 knots speed”. said the student of Marine Engineering Department.

Furthermore, Rayyan describes that the Nala Proteus Boat is 0.97 meters long and 0.84 meters wide. This new boat was made by the Barunastra team using a strong fiberglass or glass fiber. With this material, it is expected to be able to complete eight missions in the upcoming prestigious annual competition.

A demonstration of the Nala Proteus Boat owned by the Barunastra Team on water blast mission, which will be performed at the International Roboboat Competition 2023 in Florida, USA

In order to face the international event, the Barunastra team has conducted experiments and optimized the boat’s performance in several times. “With the latest innovation from the Barunastra Team, we are confident to become a champion again. Moreover, we will make ITS and the Indonesian proud,” said Rayyan optimistically.

The launch of Nala Proteus was also attended by several ITS leaders, ITS Robotics Community supervisors, and other invitees. After it was officially launched, the Nala Proteus Boat also demonstrated its talent in front of the media crew on the pool in front of ITS Rectorate Building. (ITS Public Relation)

Reporter: Mohammad Febryan Khamim