The Maestro-Evo Robotics Team of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) has once again demonstrated its position as one of Indonesia’s leading student robotics teams. In the 2026 National Indonesian ABU Robot Contest (Kontes Robot ABU Indonesia/KRAI) held at the University of Jember on July 9–12, 2026, the team successfully achieved Second Place at the National Level and received the Best Strategy Award for implementing the most effective competition strategy.

This achievement was the result of a long preparation process involving robot design, development, testing, and continuous refinement in accordance with the theme of ABU Robocon 2026, “Kung Fu Quest.” In addition to creating robots with high precision and performance, the team was also required to develop effective match strategies to complete each challenge quickly and accurately.

Throughout the competition, Maestro-Evo displayed consistent performance and successfully advanced to the final round. The team’s ability to combine technological innovation with well-prepared competition strategies became one of the key factors behind its success, which was further recognized through the Best Strategy Award.

The supervising lecturer of the Maestro-Evo Robotics Team, Dr. Herlambang Sigit Pramono, stated that this achievement was the result of the students’ dedication and intensive preparation over several months. “This achievement is the result of hard work, discipline, and collaboration among all team members. They were not only required to create reliable robots but also to think quickly in developing strategies during each match. The Best Strategy Award shows that UNY students possess strong analytical abilities, creativity, and teamwork skills,” he said.

According to Herlambang, Maestro-Evo’s success also reflects UNY’s commitment to developing a learning ecosystem based on research and innovation. Through robotics competitions, students are encouraged to develop competencies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) while producing innovative solutions relevant to industrial development. This effort supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 – Quality Education, which emphasizes improving learning quality and strengthening 21st-century skills.

Furthermore, the robotics development carried out by the Maestro-Evo Team contributes to SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure through the creation of engineering-based technologies that encourage an innovation culture in higher education. The team’s success also represents strong collaboration between students, supervising lecturers, and institutional support, reflecting the implementation of SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.

The KRAI is one of the most prestigious national robotics competitions organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of Indonesia. In 2026, a total of 28 teams from leading universities across Indonesia competed for the national championship title.

The success of Maestro-Evo further strengthens UNY’s position as a university that consistently produces outstanding talents in science, technology, engineering, and innovation. This achievement proves that continuous student development and mentoring can produce graduates who are not only accomplished but also ready to contribute to technological advancement and national development.