Jakarta, INTI - The Richie robot team from the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) Surabaya has secured first place at the 2026 Indonesian ABU Robot Contest (KRAI 2026) and will represent Indonesia at the ABU Robocon International Robotics Contest in Hong Kong in August 2026.
ITS Richie Defeats UNY in the Final Round
ITS Richie claimed the championship title after defeating the Maestro Evo robot team from Yogyakarta State University (UNY) with a score of 160–20 in the final round held at the Auditorium Building of the University of Jember (Unej) on Sunday evening, July 12, 2026.
Unej Rector Iwan Taruna expressed his appreciation to all participants for demonstrating dedication, perseverance, and collaboration throughout the KRAI 2026 competition.
"What is truly impressive is not only the robots themselves, but the people behind them. Persistence, teamwork, and the courage to continue trying when others choose to stop are the values that truly matter," Iwan said.
He emphasized that KRAI is not merely a technology competition, but also a platform for developing Indonesia’s future talents who can contribute to the nation’s achievements on the global stage.
"I hope the spirit of learning, innovation, and collaboration will continue even after the competition concludes," he added.
Champion Team to Represent Indonesia in Hong Kong
Director of Learning and Student Affairs (Belmawa) at the Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Beny Bandanadjaja, congratulated all participants, especially the winning team that will represent Indonesia at the upcoming ABU Robocon competition in Hong Kong.
"May the next journey bring Indonesia’s Red and White flag to the international stage. Remember that every champion has experienced setbacks and failures. Victory does not come easily; it is the result of hard work, perseverance, and the determination to rise again," he said.
Beny also praised the University of Jember as the host for successfully organizing the national competition through collaboration among various stakeholders.
"KRAI 2026 once again demonstrates that Indonesia’s robotics innovation continues to grow through collaboration, creativity, and the determination of students from universities across the country," he concluded.
Conclusion
The success of the ITS Richie robot team at KRAI 2026 highlights the continued growth of Indonesia’s robotics innovation and engineering talent. Through creativity, collaboration, and technological advancement, Indonesian students are demonstrating their ability to compete on the global stage and contribute to the future development of robotics and automation.
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