UNDIP KRTI 2026 Achievement: 1st Place in VTOL and 1st Honorable Mention in LELA
IKN, East Kalimantan (October 2, 2026) – The UNDIP KRTI 2026 achievement marks another milestone for Diponegoro University (UNDIP). The university’s Jentayu teams, part of the UNDIP Robotic Development Center (URDC), won two awards at the 2026 National Indonesian Flying Robot Contest (KRTI).
Jentayu Copter secured 1st place in the Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) division. Meanwhile, Jentayu LELA earned 1st Honorable Mention in the Long Endurance Low Altitude (LELA) division.
These achievements highlight UNDIP students’ ability to develop unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology. Although the teams pursued different missions, both focused on improving aerial medical logistics. Their innovations also support the development of smart cities, including Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara.
UNDIP KRTI 2026 Achievement at Nusantara
The 2026 National Indonesian Flying Robot Contest took place from September 21 to 25, 2026. The event was held in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN), North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan. Furthermore, the Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) served as the host institution.
The competition adopted the theme “From Sky to Smart Capital: UAV Innovation for Indonesia’s Future City.” A total of 94 finalist teams from universities across Indonesia competed in five divisions.
These divisions were Fixed Wing (FW), Long Endurance Low Altitude (LELA), Racing Plane (RP), Technology Development (TD), and Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL).
UNDIP qualified four teams for the national competition. In addition, two teams earned awards through their innovations in aerial robotics and medical logistics.
Jentayu Copter Wins 1st Place in VTOL
The VTOL division featured the theme “Smart City – Emergency Service: The Guardian of IKN.” Participants had to complete several emergency-response missions at the IKN Plaza Seremoni Field.
First, each aircraft had to navigate gates and obstacle corridors. Next, it had to deliver a First Aid Kit to a designated target. The aircraft also had to follow a computer-vision-based route. Finally, it had to land on a designated landing pad.
Led by Muhammad Naufal Sya’bana Wijaya, Jentayu Copter developed a concept focused on fast and accurate aerial delivery. One of its main innovations was Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) technology. Under suitable conditions, this technology can provide positioning accuracy at the centimeter level.
Moreover, Jentayu Copter completed the entire mission autonomously. The aircraft operated from start to finish without manual control during the mission. As a result, the team aimed to maintain consistent flight performance throughout the challenge.
The system proved reliable during the competition. Jentayu Copter recorded no crashes during either the trial day or the match day. It also achieved the fastest full-mission completion time, at 28.6 seconds.
During the knockout rounds, the team defeated Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD). Subsequently, Jentayu Copter defeated Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) in the final. This victory secured 1st place in the VTOL division.
Jentayu LELA Earns 1st Honorable Mention
Unlike VTOL, the LELA division focused on long-range medical logistics missions. Its theme was “The Utilization of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for Medical Logistics Delivery Missions in Smart Cities.”
During the competition, aircraft had to travel from a base to several medical distribution points. They also had to perform loitering maneuvers and validate each target location. In addition, teams had to release payloads and transmit live video to a Ground Control Station (GCS).
To meet these challenges, Jentayu LELA developed a reliable telemetry system. Led by Nur Ar Rouf, the team established aircraft-to-ground-station connectivity over a distance of approximately 17 kilometers.
Furthermore, the team programmed its mission parameters to validate target locations automatically. It also adjusted the aircraft’s electrical system. These modifications supported long-distance flights and adequate flight endurance.
As a result, Jentayu LELA earned 1st Honorable Mention among 12 finalist teams in the LELA division. This achievement demonstrates UNDIP students’ efforts to develop UAV technology for long-range medical logistics.
Four UNDIP Teams Qualify for the National Competition
Besides Jentayu Copter and Jentayu LELA, URDC UNDIP sent two additional teams to the national competition. Jentayu Aeromapper competed in the FW division. Meanwhile, Jentayu Racing Plane participated in the RP division.
In total, four UNDIP teams reached the national stage of KRTI 2026.
Fahri Ali Izzudin from Electrical Engineering and Muhammad Rafli Aryandi from Mechanical Engineering coordinated the teams across the divisions. Their members came from several academic programs.
These programs included Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Informatics at the Faculty of Science and Mathematics. Students from the RPM and TRO programs at the Vocational School also participated.
The teams trained regularly at the UNDIP Tembalang Stadium and in Grobogan Regency, Central Java. During their preparation, they received guidance from Prof. Dr. Eng. Ir. Munadi, S.T., M.T.; Erwin Adriono, S.T., M.T.; and Rofiq Cahyo Prayogo, S.T., M.T.
This collaboration supported the design, testing, and refinement of their aircraft. Moreover, guidance from their supervisors helped the students prepare their systems for the national competition.
UNDIP Drone Innovation for Medical Logistics
The UNDIP KRTI 2026 achievement demonstrates the potential of UAV technology to address practical challenges. Both teams developed solutions with different technical strengths.
Jentayu Copter focused on rapid response, precise positioning, and autonomous flight. In contrast, Jentayu LELA emphasized flight range, telemetry connectivity, and endurance.
Despite these differences, both teams shared a common objective. Their innovations could support emergency services and medical supply distribution, particularly when delivery speed and geographical reach are essential.
Diponegoro University extends its appreciation to the students, academic supervisors, and supporting teams. The university also acknowledges the Rectorate, Faculty of Engineering, and Directorate of Student Affairs and Alumni for supporting the delegation throughout the competition.
Looking ahead, UNDIP hopes these achievements will inspire more students to develop practical and competitive innovations. In addition, continued research in robotics and aerospace technology can strengthen Indonesia’s technological capabilities.
Ultimately, these efforts can contribute to greater national self-reliance in unmanned aerial vehicle technology.
(Public Communications/UNDIP)