IKN - Reaching the final of a national competition is already a proud achievement. However, for Pandhega Daksa from Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK), KRTI 2026 carries an even more meaningful story. They are not only competing as finalists, but are also representing ITK as the university hosts the 2026 Indonesian Flying Robot Contest (KRTI).

Being both a finalist and part of the host institution gives Pandhega Daksa a unique experience. On one hand, they have the honor of welcoming students from universities across Indonesia. On the other, they carry the responsibility of presenting ITK’s best innovation in front of competitors coming to East Kalimantan.

“Honestly, we are very proud and excited. Being the host gives us the honor of welcoming fellow students from across Indonesia, while being finalists motivates us even more to showcase our best innovation on our own home ground,” said the Pandhega Daksa team.

Ten Students, Four Study Programs, One Mission

Pandhega Daksa consists of ten students from various academic backgrounds. They are Abdillah Rizqi and Adhe Tegar Sarnadi from Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2023; Muhammad Evan Surya Syahputra from Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2023; Alief Rachmattul Islam and Faqih Chairul Anam from Informatics, Class of 2023; Alfian Ramadani, Aprian Syahrani, and Razi Maulana from Informatics, Class of 2025; Alief Akbar Fadila Gunawan from Electrical Engineering, Class of 2025; and Reynadilah Afridania Ansyar from Environmental Engineering, Class of 2023.

Their diverse academic backgrounds contribute different areas of expertise to the development of the aircraft. Mechanical engineering, informatics, electrical engineering, and environmental engineering come together in one team, with each member working to ensure that every part of the system can operate as an integrated whole.

This makes their journey to the final about more than technical capability. It is also the story of ten students, each with their own academic responsibilities, working toward a common goal.

Testing Does Not Always Go According to Plan

Pandhega Daksa’s journey to the KRTI 2026 final has not been without obstacles. One of their most memorable challenges occurred when the team was preparing to test their drone.

During the planned testing session, the drone’s GPS failed to connect properly. The issue forced the team to change their plans and move the testing process to another location so that development could continue.

In addition to the GPS problem, integrating the various features developed for the aircraft presented another major challenge. It was not enough for each feature to work independently; all components had to function together as part of a single integrated system.

As a result, the preparation process became a long cycle of testing, identifying problems, making improvements, and testing again.

For the team, this demanding process became one of the most memorable parts of their journey to the final.

“The most memorable part was the long process of making sure the drone could operate properly. Our teamwork in dealing with every problem eventually brought us to this stage, and now we continue to fight together to achieve the best possible result,” the team said.

Balancing Academic Life and Aircraft Development

Another challenge came from their daily responsibilities as university students. Preparation for the KRTI final continued alongside lectures, assignments, and other academic obligations.

For Pandhega Daksa, balancing a demanding academic schedule with the target of completing the aircraft became one of the toughest aspects of their preparation.

“The biggest sacrifices during our preparation for the KRTI 2026 final have been our energy, time, and mental strength. We have had to divide our focus between a packed academic schedule and the target of completing the aircraft, and that has been one of the toughest challenges we have faced,” the team explained.

Their journey to the final therefore represents more than technological achievement. Behind the aircraft are hours taken from already busy schedules, considerable effort dedicated to development, and the pressure of ensuring that every system is ready for competition.

Yet these challenges have also strengthened the team. Whenever a problem emerged, members had to work together to find a solution before moving on to the next stage.

Hosts, but Still Competitors

Being the host does not lessen Pandhega Daksa’s role as a competitor.

Instead, competing on home ground provides additional motivation. With teams from universities across Indonesia coming to KRTI 2026, Pandhega Daksa is determined to deliver its best performance.

There is pride in seeing ITK trusted to welcome participants from across the country. At the same time, the team carries the ambition to demonstrate that ITK students can compete nationally in the development of unmanned aerial vehicle technology.

For Pandhega Daksa, KRTI is also about more than pursuing a competition result. Meeting other teams offers an opportunity to discover different approaches to technology development and learn from fellow students.

The team hopes the competition will broaden their network and create opportunities to exchange knowledge with students from other universities and institutes.

“Our hope after KRTI 2026 is to expand our network and exchange knowledge with colleagues from various universities and institutes. This experience will become valuable capital for us to continuously improve and enhance the quality of our innovations in the future,” the team said.

For Pandhega Daksa, competing in the KRTI 2026 final on home ground is about much more than the competition itself. Behind their journey are technical setbacks, a GPS system that once disrupted testing, demanding academic schedules, and the physical and mental effort required to keep moving forward.

On their own home ground, Pandhega Daksa are not only hosts—they are here to compete and give their very best.