The Gadjah Mada Aerospace Team at Universitas Gadjah Mada (GMAT UGM) emerged as the first-place winner in the preliminary round of the Indonesia Kibo Robot Programming Challenge (Kibo-RPC) 2025.
The competition was organized by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in Bandung on Jul. 3. This victory makes Narantaka GMAT the only team eligible to represent Indonesia in the international final round.
The final will be held directly at the Tsukuba Space Center, Japan.
Kibo-RPC is an annual robotics competition initiated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT).
In this competition, students are challenged to design and program robotic missions simulated in Japan’s Kibo module located on the International Space Station (ISS).
This year, UGM sent its flagship sub-team, Narantaka GMAT, led by Muflikhul Ammar and consisting of Nadya Fatika Sari, Polikarpus Arya Pradhanika, Muhammad Zufar Syaafi’, Rahmat Nur Panghegar, and Mu’ammar Ihza Syadi.
This sub-team comprises students with expertise in robotic control and simulation.
Thanks to accurate programming, mature strategy, and solid collaboration, Narantaka GMAT successfully completed all national-level competition challenges and was crowned first place.
“This victory is the result of hard work, dedication, and extraordinary team synergy. We are grateful for the opportunity given to represent Indonesia on the international stage,” Ammar said on Friday (Jul. 11).
He added, “With full spirit and hope, we are ready to give our best to uphold the nation’s and GMAT’s name in the Kibo-RPC 2025 event.”
The success of Narantaka GMAT is inseparable from the important role of the GMAT supervising lecturers, including Dr. I Made Miasa, Adhika Widyaparaga, Dr. Iswandi, and Catur Atmaji.
Not to forget, the support from Universitas Gadjah Mada, sponsor partners, and the collaborative spirit among members serve as a strong foundation. This foundation encourages GMAT to continue flying high and remain relevant amidst global technological dynamics.
For GMAT, this achievement marks a significant milestone in their ongoing space research journey. GMAT has long been a platform for UGM students’ development in space technology, rocketry, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
“This achievement is a positive energy for the entire GMAT team. We believe that participation in the Kibo-RPC competition is not just about winning, but also a real contribution to the development of space science and technology in Indonesia,” said Fhadil Akbar Ramadhan, General Chair of GMAT.
Director of the Indonesian Space Agency at BRIN, Professor Erna Sri Adiningsih, stated in a press release sent to reporters that this competition aims to prepare young talents to face challenges in space technology.
It also opens opportunities for the development of robotic technology that is adaptive to extreme conditions in space.
Furthermore, Professor Adiningsih emphasized that this competition is highly relevant to efforts for the regeneration of scientists and technology in the aerospace field.
This is particularly true in supporting future space missions that demand miniature, robust, affordable, and reliable technology.
“We hope that through the 6th KIBO RPC national selection, the best candidates can be obtained to represent Indonesia at the international selection stage,” she said.
Author: Rafif Rusmana
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photograph: GMAT UGM