IKN – From Aceh, one of Indonesia’s westernmost regions, a long journey brought Seulawah Team of Universitas Syiah Kuala all the way to Nusantara Capital City (IKN), East Kalimantan. They travelled thousands of kilometers carrying not only their personal belongings, but also an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that had gone through months of development, testing, repair, and refinement before finally reaching the competition arena.

For the students, the journey to the 2026 Indonesian Flying Robot Contest (KRTI) was more than simply travelling from Aceh to Kalimantan. It also meant carrying the responsibility of making sure every part of the aircraft arrived safely, no essential component was left behind, and every team member was ready when the competition began.

Fatigue was naturally part of the journey. Yet upon arriving at IKN, that exhaustion was accompanied by pride. A journey that began from the western edge of Indonesia had finally brought them together with students from universities across the country on one national technology competition stage.

Seulawah Team brings together students from various disciplines, including Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Geophysical Engineering, and Computer Engineering. Instead of becoming a limitation, these different academic backgrounds became one of the team’s strengths in developing their aircraft for the Fixed Wing Division of KRTI 2026.

But before the aircraft ever reached the competition field, there were many stories that remained unseen.

Some tests went according to plan. Others revealed technical problems that required the team to stop, identify the cause, repair certain components, and test the aircraft again. With limited time and resources, every opportunity for testing became valuable.

Preparing for the national final also tested more than their technical abilities. The process was physically demanding, mentally exhausting, and required the team to continuously maintain trust and unity.

Through that process, they learned that making an aircraft fly is not only about engines, structures, or control systems.

Communication, trust, and teamwork are also part of what keeps an aircraft in the air.

The journey from Aceh to IKN became another challenge in itself. The aircraft and its supporting equipment had to be carefully packed and repeatedly checked to ensure that everything needed for the competition arrived safely.

For a flying robot team, even one small missing component could affect months of preparation.

Eventually, they realized that what they were carrying was more than just a UAV.

They were carrying the name of Universitas Syiah Kuala, the pride of Aceh, and the determination of students from Indonesia’s westernmost region to prove that distance is never a barrier to technological innovation. When they finally arrived at IKN, the feeling was a mixture of happiness, pride, and renewed motivation. The long journey from Aceh had brought their work to one of Indonesia’s national stages for student innovation.

For Seulawah Team, KRTI is also a reminder that competition is not only about becoming a champion. Behind every aircraft are lessons, failures, repeated attempts, and the ability of a team to keep moving forward when things do not always go according to plan. They hope their journey will not end with the achievements of the current team. Seulawah Team’s presence at KRTI is expected to inspire more students in Aceh to take opportunities, develop technological innovations, and bring their ideas to wider stages.

From Aceh to IKN, Seulawah Team’s journey ultimately became a story about much more than an unmanned aircraft. It is a story about how far a dream can travel when courage, knowledge, and teamwork move together. Because before an aircraft can rise into the skies of KRTI, there is always a long journey that must first be travelled on the ground.