Indonesia
Lintang Selatan, World Class Robotic Team
Lintang Selatan is a skyrocketing name among Indonesian robotic lovers. It’s after they stole the attention of MATE (Maritime Advance Technology Education) International ROV Competition 2014’s jury at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Facilities, Alpena, Michigan, US. There were 50 teams from 13 nations took part in the event. Although they didn’t win the grand prize, Lintang Selatan came home with Guts and Glory award, for their persistence and determination in building an underwater robot. Superkids Indonesia went to see the Sekolah Robot Indonesia’s team in Surabaya to share about their greatness.
Congratulation for winning in world level event.
Hehehe….thank you. It wasn’t something serious when we first started. It turned out to be paid off.
When was this team assembled?
February 2014, two months before the Asian regional underwater robot construction event in Hong Kong.
How many members do you have?
Eight, four still go to elementary school.
Today, kids are crazy about gadget. Why are you guys so into robotic?
Normal gadgets are like plug and play, we just use them. For robot, we need to construct it from the scrape. So, we build what robot we want, that’s the fun of it. We can collaborate it with our gadget too. For example, we construct a mobile robot with android control.
Do you have a regular schedule for practice, like every day?
For Lintang Selatan robot, we do. Every day after school. We have a workshop in Sidokare Asri, Sidoarjo. Our mentors are Dhadhang SBW and Yudi Triwibowo.
How do you participate in US event?
We made it through Asia regional selection first. It’s 9th Hong Kong/Asia Regional of the MATE International ROV Competition, held at Hong Kong University in Hong Kong, April 12-13, 2014. For Ranger category that we took part in, there were about 25 contestants from all over Asia. Five of them were then selected for international level in US. We being among them.
How do you work in Lintang Selatan robot?
We made arrange our team like a mini corporation. So, we have a CEO, financial officer, mechanic, designer, programmer and even marketing whose job was making poster and setting up presentation.
What’s so great from Lintang Selatan underwater robot?
This robot was built to finish missions in competition. There were three of them; Shipwreck, Science and Conservation. Shipwreck was exploring document and identifying a shipwreck. Science was collecting sample of microbes, measuring soil conductivity from a dumping holes, spreading censors and making estimation on how many zebra shells were found around a shipwreck. Conservation was preserving the environment because this robot can also serve to clean the river from garbage.
So it has arms and legs like human?
Yes. It has arms, legs and eyes. The legs are steers and there are three eyes, cameras that we installed for exploration mission. In addition, there were several censors installed for Science mission. So it can measure the water conductivity and do some research on microbes sample. The arms are used to collect sample in the water during conservation. It is capable of lifting up to 5 kg. Lintang Selatan was only 30 cm in height and 50 in length. The cost to make one is about USD 1.800.
Oh, wow… You truly earn the award.
Hehehe….thanks to solid teamwork.
What is your impression from the international tournament?
We made a lot of friends and experience. Contestants from other countries were so nice and willing to share what they know. So we also learn a lot about underwater robot from them. The trip itself was quite fun and tiring at the same time, hehehe. We spent total 14 days from departure to arrival Surabaya-Alpena. We landed in Chicago and had to travel by bus for like 12 hours.
It was worth it.
Surely is.
What is the next target?
We want to develop the underwater robot so that Indonesia can use it. For example for conserving Indonesian seas. We also aim for the first place at 2015 MATE. Whish us luck!
You can do it.
Amin, thank you.
LINTANG SELATAN TEAM
- Ahistya Purbolintang (November 28th 1996 – grade 12 Senior High School 1 Sidoarjo)
- Muhammad Reza Arrazi (March 12th 1996 – grade 12 Senior High School 1 Sidoarjo)
- Muchammad Ilham Syarifullah Arabiy Mahjudin (Feb 10th 2003 – grade 6 Muhammadiyah Elementary School 4 Surabaya)
- Firman Fathoni (September 6th 2003 – grade 5 Muhammadiyah Elementary School 4 Surabaya)
- Kaisar Nialfza (June 7th 2003 – grade 6 Muhammadiyah Elementary School 4 Surabaya)
- Naura Aurelia Mahjudin (Des 26th 2000 – grade 9 Junior High School 17 Surabaya)
- Rachel Yusriyah Bilqis (11 Nov 2005 – grade 3 Muhammadiyah Elementary School 4 Surabaya)
- Adna Mumtaza Fadlurrohman (19 April 2003 – grade 6 Muhammadiyah Elementary School 1 Sidoarjo)
HAFIDA INDRAWATI
PHOTOS: LINTANG SELATAN
