The Barunastra team from Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) has once again brought pride to Indonesia by winning first place in the 2025 International Roboboat Competition (IRC) in Florida, USA. This prestigious event, which brings together teams from different countries, serves as a platform for the world's leading innovators in maritime technology.
With the theme of environmental monitoring, this year's competition challenged participants to complete six key missions, including navigating channels, mapping migration patterns, and racing against pollution. Accuracy in completing each mission was a critical factor in determining the winner.
Taib Izzat Samawi, general manager of the 2025 Barunastra ITS team, said his team won first place in the Autonomy Challenge category, beating 30 other teams. This is the sixth time Barunastra ITS has won the competition.
"The evaluation focused on the vessel's ability to operate autonomously and complete missions with high precision," Taib explained.
Pushing Boundaries in Maritime Technology
In addition to excelling in the Autonomy Challenge, the Barunastra ITS team also demonstrated outstanding research quality by placing second in the Design Documentation category. This achievement highlights the team's innovation and technical precision in tackling maritime technology challenges.
In this competition, the Barunastra ITS team presented Nala Ares, the newest robotic vessel designed with a carbon fiber structure for reduced weight and optimal buoyancy. Its advanced propulsion system ensures more precise maneuvering, while electrical efficiency is improved by two main printed circuit boards (PCBs): the power PCB and the control PCB.
The Nala Ares' software architecture has also been optimized with perception, cognition, and behavior modules, enabling better system integration for autonomous operations. With these innovations, the Barunastra ITS team continues to consolidate its dominance on the global maritime technology stage.
Indonesian Talent Shines on the Global Stage
The success of the Barunastra ITS Team would not have been possible without the support of various parties, including sponsors, as well as months of meticulous preparation. A series of intensive trials ensured that Nala Ares' systems operated optimally, which was the key to the team's outstanding performance in the competition.
"We have conducted a series of trials since last December to ensure that all vessel systems function at their best. This has been the main factor behind our strong performance in the competition," said Taib.
The Nala Ares innovation also aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, supporting sustainable marine ecosystem monitoring. Its autonomous technology is expected to drive more environmentally friendly maritime solutions.
This achievement further strengthens Barunastra ITS’s position as a leading team in global maritime competitions. Taib hopes this success will inspire Indonesia’s younger generation to continue innovating and prove that local talent can compete on the international stage.
