Indonesia Robot Contest (KRI) 2018 becomes a contest for 91 teams to show their ability. Conducted on 10-13 July at Sportorium of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), the contest brings a theme of ‘Intelligently Think, Mechanically Linked” to portray development of students’ interest in robotics and to prepare them to confront challenges of industrial revolution 4.0.

Chairman of the committee of the KRI 2018 Sri Atmaja P. Rosyidi, ST., MSc.Eng., Ph.D., P.E. told that there are five contest categories. “They are Indonesia ABU (Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union) Robot Contest (KRAI), Indonesia Fire-Fighting Robot Contest (KRPAI), Indonesia Soccer Robot Contest (KRSBI) for the Humanoid Division, Indonesia Soccer Robot Contest (KRSBI) for the Wheeled Division, and Indonesia Dance Robot Contest (KRSTI),” he mentioned.

Sri also said that the KRI 2018 will be commenced by a symposium that the contest participants presents ideas of their robots. “KRSBI participants are obliged to join the symposium and they present their robot designs. The KRI will officially be opened by Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education (Menristekdikti) and afterwards each contest category begins the match,” he explained.

“To compete in this national contest, students underwent a quite long process. First, students should submit a proposal of their robot design, and it was evaluated by juries. Then, they are selected to pass to this national robot contest,” said Sri,

Meanwhile, Chief of Juries of the National KRI 2018 informed that the robotics has rapidly developed among students in Indonesia. They also won various robot contests. “For instance, a team from Politeknik Elektronik Negerei Surabaya (PENS) represented Indonesia at Trinity College Fire Fighting Home Robot Contest (TCFFHRC) and the team achieved the first place,” he told.

Wahidin also revealed that there was a dance robot at the KRI 2018 which becomes a characteristic of a robot contest in Indonesia. “The dance robot contest has started since 2019 and the dance is always a traditional dance of Indonesia such as Piring dance, Jaipong dance and Remo dance which is contested in the KRI,” he conveyed.

“The dance contest is an effort to preserve Indonesia culture and broaden people’s horizons about the culture,” he maintained.