The TOBARANIA Team from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Hasanuddin Brings Its Autonomous Robot Innovation to the 2026 ABU Indonesia National Robotics Contest
Makassar – A robotics innovation developed by students from the Faculty of Engineering at Hasanuddin University has once again demonstrated its competitiveness at the national level. The TOBARANIA team successfully qualified as a participant in the 2026 ABU Indonesia National Robotics Contest (KRAI) after passing a series of selection stages, including proposal evaluation and an online demonstration of the robot’s performance before a national panel of judges.
According to an announcement from the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, the TOBARANIA Team from Hasanuddin University has officially been selected as one of the teams that will compete in the 2026 National KRAI, which will be held in person on July 9–13, 2026, at the University of Jember in East Java.
However, this success is not merely a competitive achievement. Behind this qualification lies an intensive process of engineering and technological development carried out by students from the Unhas Faculty of Engineering to produce a robotic system capable of operating with precision, coordination, and adaptability to various challenges on the competition arena.
Developing Manual and Autonomous Robotic Systems
At KRAI 2026, which carried the theme “Kung Fu Quest”, the TOBARANIA team developed two robots with different functions that are integrated with one another.
The first robot (R1) was designed as a manual robot tasked with assembling weapons, retrieving Kung Fu Scrolls (KFS) in the Meihua Forest area, and placing the KFS in specific positions on the Tic-Tac-Toe rack.
Meanwhile, the second robot (R2) was developed as an autonomous robot capable of assisting in the assembly process, detecting targets, determining its own movement path, and placing KFS on the middle or top shelves without direct control from an operator.
The development of this autonomous robot required the application of various engineering concepts, ranging from control systems, sensors, and programming to hardware and software integration, as well as autonomous navigation strategies—one of the main challenges in national robotics competitions.
Student Creativity and Learning Laboratory
TOBARANIA Team Leader, Hamdika, explained that the robot development process is not only competition-oriented but also serves as a learning tool that brings together various engineering disciplines into a single real-world project.
“Through the development of this robot, we’ve learned how to integrate mechanical design, electronic systems, programming, and automatic control into a single system that can function effectively on the competition arena. This experience has provided invaluable lessons for all team members,” he said.
According to Hamdika, the support from the Faculty of Engineering at Hasanuddin University was a key factor enabling the team to complete the robot’s development and prepare it for national-level competition.
“We are very grateful for the support provided by the Unhas Faculty of Engineering, particularly in terms of funding and development facilities. This support motivates us to continue refining the robot system and deliver the best results at the national level,” he added.
Fostering a Culture of Innovation and Technology in the Faculty of Engineering
The TOBARANIA team consists of:
- Hamdika
- A. Muh. Afrial Ivan Pratama
- Ahmad Billah
- Muh. Senayudha Suratama
- Muhammad Al Mabrur G
- Nur Hilmi Khairunnisa Yunus
Ahead of the national competition, the team continues to make various improvements to the robot’s mechanical, electronic, and software systems to enhance reliability and performance accuracy on the competition arena.
The success of Team TOBARANIA demonstrates that robotics competitions are not merely contests but also platforms for fostering innovation, creativity, problem-solving skills, and multidisciplinary collaboration—all of which are essential in the modern engineering world.
For the Faculty of Engineering at Hasanuddin University, this achievement is part of an ongoing commitment to building a learning ecosystem centered on student innovation and research. Through various competitive activities and technology development initiatives, students are encouraged to produce engineering solutions relevant to industrial advancements and societal needs.
With this spirit, the TOBARANIA team aims to deliver its best performance at the 2026 National KRAI Competition while further establishing the Faculty of Engineering at Hasanuddin University as a leading center for talent development and technological innovation in Indonesia.