Director General of Higher Education (Dirjen Dikti) Prof. Dr. Ir. Joko Santoso, M.Sc., hopes that robots made by students can be utilized by the economy and industry world. Therefore, the students’ robotics work does not stop on the competition only, but followed up in both sectors. "The robots that are produced by these students are expected to be seen not only as a work for the competition, but also useful in industry and economy," Joko said when opening the National Robot Contest (KRN) 2011 in UGM Grha Shaba Pramana (GSP) on Saturday (11 / 6).
With the involvement and support of the industrial world in the development of robots, the future development of robotics in Indonesia will likely to be more advanced. Director General of Higher Education also gives message to the students who win the competition to show their strength in the international arena. "In an era of fierce competition like today, we have to continue to strive to be able to show our strength at the global level in the field of robotics," Joko added.
Meanwhile, the Rector of UGM Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M. Eng., Ph.D., expects that National Robot Contest (KRN) 2011 this time can be used as a means to develop robotics in Indonesia. Furthermore, this is also the event to train the competitive character in a professional manner for the students. Thus, this competition will create the qualified leaders of the nation. "In addition to train competitive attitude, it serves to strengthen the relationship between students throughout Indonesia," said Rector.
Earlier, Committee Chairman of the KRN 2011, Dr.Eng. Muh Arif Wibisono, S.T., M.T., explained the event under the theme ‘Jogja Robot Under Attack’ features 101 teams from 51 universities, representing the robots champions from all regions in Indonesia. These teams have successfully passed the preliminary round held in five regions, Sumatra, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Kalimantan, and East Indonesia.
Arif Wibisono mentions that the current KRN is contesting five categories. The main category is Indonesian Robot Contest with the theme "Larungan". This theme is taken from the theme in ABU Robocon, "Loy Krathong", i.e. lotus flowers given to the river goddess that is used to be held every November in Thailand. The winner of this category will represent Indonesia in an international robot contest, ABU Robocon 2011 in Thailand.
The next category is the Indonesian Intelligent Robot Contest, which consists of three categories, namely Wheeled and Legged Fire Extinguisher Intelligent Robots and Football Player Robot. Intelligent robots will automatically contend to quickly find and extinguish fire in an arena that resembles a house. Meanwhile, the football player robot will try to compete to score the ball into the opponent’s goal as many as possible. Winners of this contest will also represent Indonesia in the robot contest in America.
Another category is Indonesian Art Robot Contest featuring robots that will mimic the dancers of Klono Mask of Yogyakarta. There are 16 robots to contend their ability to dance in this category.
To enliven the KRN 2011 in the UGM GSP, exhibitions and competitions are also being held with the theme ‘Jogja Under Attack’. The exhibition takes the concept of innovation in the field of robotics in the form of performances of robots, toy robots and hobbies, the robot artwork, technology and educational booths, performances of music bands, interactive games, and robot costume festivals.
Various competitions are held with the target participants from all levels of education, from kindergarten to college. Robot coloring contest is intended for kindergarten children; robot drawing contest for elementary school children; Water Rocket Competition for middle and high school students; and Line Follower for high school and college levels. All of the competitions are competing for the Yogyakarta Governor’s Cups.
The opening ceremony of KRN 2011was attended by Deputy Minister of Industry, Dr. Ir. Alex S.W. Retraubun, M.Sc., and Director of the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DP2M) Higher Education, Prof. Ir. Suryo Hapsoro Tri Utomo, Ph.D., witnessed by thousands of supporters of each college. A traditional army was seen to accompany the parade of robot teams in the early opening event, followed by new creations dance called “Kridha Pratama Millennium”, before official opening by the Director General of Higher Education.