The symbolic releasing of the Bayucaraka ITS team to compete in the 2024 National KRTI by starting the PALKONJET aircraft engine which will compete in the Racing Plane division

ITS Campus, ITS News — After successfully passing all regional selection stages of the 2024 Indonesian Flying Robot Contest (will be referred as KRTI, in Indonesian: Kontes Robot Terbang Indonesia), the Bayucaraka team from Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) is now preparing to sweep all titles at the 2024 National KRTI event. The ITS flying robot team will compete on September 12-19 at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta.

General Manager of the Bayucaraka ITS Team Raditya Eka Putra explained, KRTI is an annual event that brings together superior unmanned flying robot teams from all universities in the country. In this edition, there are five divisions being contested. The divisions consist of Racing Plane (RP), Technology Development (TD), Vertical Take Off Landing (VTOL), Fixed Wing (FW), and Long Endurance Low Altitude (LELA). “The Bayucaraka team itself will compete in all divisions of the competition,” said the student who is usually called Radit at the Grand Launching event which took place at the ITS Robotics Center Building, Friday (6/9).

In the RP or fast flying division, Radit said, the Bayucaraka ITS team would field its proud aircraft, PALKONJET. Meanwhile, in the TD division which focuses on technology development, the SONGGORITI aircraft will be deployed and in the VTOL division as an advanced level of technology development, the SOEROKU87 drone will be deployed. Meanwhile, in the LELA division as an implementation of long-distance flying and FW which focuses on real applications, BARBATOS and COBRA aircraft will be deployed.

General Manager of the Bayucaraka ITS Team Raditya Eka Putra while explaining his team’s readiness to compete in the 2024 National KRTI at the Grand Launching event at the ITS Robotics Center Building

Alluding to the readiness of his team, this 2021 student said, the Bayucaraka ITS team has carried out routine flight tests since last March. Radit stated that the main focus that was emphasized centered on the reliability of the drone that would be flown. This reliability includes the consistency of travel time and flight distance, resistance to damage, and the reliability of the aircraft in passing various missions and obstacles.

Adding to his explanation, Radit said that specifically each division has different preparations. He gave an example, one of which was the LELA division. In this new division that was contested at KRTI 2024, the Bayucaraka ITS team used a battery with a larger capacity so that the aircraft could fly longer. Radit revealed, in the last flight test, the COBRA aircraft could fly for up to 1.5 hours. “And the antenna used is also stronger,” he added.

Aloysius Abraham (second from left), a member of the Bayucaraka ITS team while explaining the technical and technological aspects of the aircraft that will compete in the 2024 National KRTI

In addition to the technical preparation of the aircraft, according to Radit, his team has also prepared a strategy in dealing with the difference between the training field and the race field. The terrain of the race is quite hilly and surrounded by ravines and cliffs making flight procedures must be tightened. Nevertheless, Radit revealed, the Bayucaraka ITS team had conducted a thorough survey and optimum prevention strategies.

Meanwhile, ITS Robotics Team Coordinator Muhtadin ST MT revealed, support from all parties helped boost the team’s enthusiasm to make the best achievements. This comprehensive support, according to Muhtadin, is a great asset for the Bayucaraka ITS team to spread their wings wider in the upcoming National KRTI contest. “Apart from support, various comprehensive evaluations are also given in detail to support the victory of the Hero Campus,” he added.

ITS Robotics Team Coordinator Muhtadin ST MT when briefing the Bayucaraka ITS team who will leave to compete in the 2024 National KRTI

The ITS Computer Engineering Department lecturer is targeting the Bayucaraka ITS team to reach the highest podium in the contest. Muhtadin hopes that the hard work that has been mobilized can pay off with victory. In addition, Muhtadin advised that all team members who competed could make the momentum a place to contribute and learn. “As well as looking for experience and relationships as much as possible,” he ended. (ITS Public Relations)

Reporter: Shafa Annisa Ramadhani
Translator: Lael Soebakir