UNDIP, Nusantara Capital City (IKN), East Kalimantan (25/9) – Universitas Diponegoro’s (UNDIP) Jentayu Copter Team successfully won 1st place nationally in the Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) division at the 2026 Indonesian Flying Robot Contest (KRTI). The prestigious competition was held in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) area in East Kalimantan from September 21 to 26, 2026.
KRTI is organized by the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs (Belmawa) of the Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek). The competition serves as a platform for developing student talent in unmanned aircraft technology or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
This year, a total of 94 teams from 34 Indonesian universities that passed the national selection competed in five divisions: Fixed-Wing (FW), Long Endurance Low Altitude (LELA), Racing Plane (RP), Technology Development (TD), and Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL).
Four UNDIP Divisions
Through the UNDIP Robotic Development Center (URDC), UNDIP successfully qualified and sent four divisions to the national competition: Jentayu Aeromapper FW, Jentayu LELA, Jentayu RP, and Jentayu Copter VTOL. All divisions were coordinated by Fahri Ali Izzudin from Electrical Engineering and Muhammad Rafli Aryandi from Mechanical Engineering.
The team members came from various study programs, including Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Informatics at the Faculty of Science and Mathematics (FSM), as well as RPM and TRO at the Vocational School. The teams prepared their UAVs and trained regularly at UNDIP Stadium in Tembalang and in Grobogan Regency, Central Java, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Eng. Munadi, Erwin Andriono, S.T., M.T., and Rofiq Cahyo Prayogo, S.T., M.T.
The Road to the Top of the Podium
The UNDIP Jentayu Copter VTOL Team, led by Naufal Sya’bana, competed under the concept of “fast response, precise, and accurate aerial shipment delivery.” With this concept, the team worked to deliver its best performance for UNDIP. The concept proved reliable throughout the intense competition.
The team’s journey to the championship title was far from easy. In the knockout round, Jentayu Copter defeated teams from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD). In the final round, the team once again delivered its best performance, defeating the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) team to secure the national championship title.
The Result of Collaboration and Support
This proud achievement was made possible through the collaboration and synergy of various parties. Consistent support from the UNDIP Rectorate, the Faculty of Engineering, and the Directorate of Student Affairs and Alumni served as an important foundation for URDC UNDIP in preparing the team, from coaching and facilities to assistance throughout the competition.
Jentayu Copter’s success at KRTI 2026 is expected to inspire other UNDIP students to continue innovating and achieving excellence at both national and international levels, particularly in aerospace technology and robotics. (Public Communication/UNDIP)