ITS Robot Team Secures Two Awards at ABU Robocon 2026

Surabaya (ANTARA) - The robot team from the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) has secured two awards at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Robocon (ABU Robocon) 2026 in Hong Kong, namely the Best Idea Award and the ROHM Award.

Muhammad Najmi Ihsan, leader of the ITS Richie Robocon team, expressed his gratitude for the team’s achievements at ABU Robocon 2026 in a statement received in Surabaya on Tuesday. According to him, bringing home these two international awards serves as evidence of the team’s consistent performance throughout the competition series.

Regarding the Best Idea Award, the student from the ITS Mechanical Engineering Department explained that the team introduced mechanical innovations in both robots used. The first robot relies on a three-axis arm mechanism, while the second robot is designed to resemble a forklift to lift the ‘Kung Fu Scroll’.

“Both mechanical structures utilise stainless steel with a thickness of 0.8 millimetres,” said Najmi.

Alongside the mechanical developments, the team also updated the robots’ communication system. The communication technology, which previously utilised light, was replaced with a QR code-based system. The robots’ capabilities were further enhanced through the development of automated programmes to handle fallen boxes. This innovation was part of the team’s strategy to improve robot performance during the competition.

In addition to the Best Idea Award, the use of ROHM electronic components by the ITS Richie Robocon team also led to the team winning the ROHM Award. This award was presented by ROHM Semiconductor Japan, one of the sponsors of ABU Robocon 2026 Hong Kong.

“The use of ROHM electronic components accounts for approximately 10 per cent of the total components in the ITS team’s robots,” said Najmi.

According to Najmi, participating in KRAI and ABU Robocon provided valuable lessons for the team. The knowledge-sharing sessions at ABU Robocon also offered participants the opportunity to exchange expertise regarding robotics, programming, and mechanics with teams from various countries.

Najmi expressed his gratitude that the Richie team managed to reach the top eight of ABU Robocon 2026. He hopes that the team can achieve even higher achievements in the coming year.

This achievement reflects ITS’s commitment to driving innovation and technological development through education. Such efforts align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) point 4 regarding Quality Education and point 9 regarding Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.