Ten teams from State Islamic Higher Education Institutions (PTKIN) competed in innovation and technological ability in the Robotics Competition at the Religion, Science, and Research Olympiad (OASE) III 2026. Held in the Convention Hall (CH) on the second floor of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, the competition gave students a chance to show their creativity and command of robotics technology, while strengthening the contribution of Islamic universities to the development of modern science and technology.

One of the categories contested was the transporter robot, a competition that tests participants' ability to design and operate a robot to complete challenges on a course. It calls for a combination of programming skills, mechanical design, sensor control, and precision and efficiency in the robot's movement.

The ten participating PTKIN were UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta as host, UIN KH Abdurrahman Wahid Pekalongan, UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, UIN Salatiga, UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta, UIN Imam Bonjol Padang, UIN Prof. K.H. Saifuddin Zuhri Purwokerto, UIN Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi, UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya, and UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. The presence of contingents from so many regions reflects the growing interest and capacity of PTKIN students in engineering and technological innovation.

Before the competition began, the organizers gave all participants an opportunity to test the course. Teams used the session to map the arena, calibrate their sensors, and test the response and performance of their robots' drive systems. This preparation was important because the robots had to adapt to real course conditions, which can differ from simulations and laboratory testing.

In the first standings session, which ran until the break for Friday prayers, the competition between teams was intense. Participants operated their robots with care while adjusting their strategies to improve accuracy and save time. Several teams also improved over the course of the matches as they adapted to the arena.

Three contingents achieved a maximum score of 100 percent in the first session: UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, UIN KH Abdurrahman Wahid Pekalongan, and UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang. The three held the top spots in the interim standings before the competition resumed for the second session after the Friday prayer break.

M. Arif Rahman, S.T., M.T., the person in charge of the OASE III 2026 Robotics Competition, praised the enthusiasm and achievements of all participants. He said the first standings session went smoothly and offered a picture of how students' robotics skills are developing.

In his view, the fact that the robotics competition has continued across three editions of OASE shows that this category is earning a place among PTKIN students. Robotics is not just part of the competition, he said, but also a way to encourage mastery of science, technology, and engineering skills at religious universities.

Arif hopes the robotics category can be expanded in future editions of OASE. Beyond the transporter robot, the competition could add other categories, such as soccer robots and flying robots. This expansion, he said, would open more room for students to explore and encourage applied research and technological innovation.

He also proposed establishing a student activity center, or Robotic Center, at UIN Sunan Kalijaga. This robotics development hub would serve as a place for students to develop ideas, conduct collaborative research, and receive ongoing mentoring. With adequate facilities and a supportive development ecosystem, students' potential in robotics could continue to be honed and developed.

The participants shared this enthusiasm. Revaldi Pamungkas, a representative of the UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang contingent, said his team had prepared intensively for more than a month, including concept design, assembly of mechatronic components, and refinement of the robot before the matches.

Revaldi said he was excited to see so many students from different PTKIN taking part in the robotics competition. In his view, this is a positive development, given that robotics and electronics have not always been a top choice for students at religious universities. He hopes that preparation for future competitions can begin earlier so that each team has enough time to develop and optimize its innovation.

The host contingent, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, showed the same spirit. After passing the administrative selection, the team immediately began working on the robot's design and technical requirements through discussion and shared development of ideas. The result was Robo Omni 3, a robot that uses an omnidirectional wheel mechanism, allowing more flexible movement in any direction on the course.

Taking part in OASE III 2026 is expected to broaden the interest of UIN Sunan Kalijaga students in robotics, particularly in developing transporter robots. More than just entering a competition, the experience is hoped to spark creative and practical innovations that benefit the community.

The OASE III 2026 Robotics Competition is one expression of efforts to build science and technology competence within the PTKIN community. Through this competition, students not only test their technical abilities but also sharpen their creativity, collaboration, precision, and problem-solving skills. This spirit is in line with UIN Sunan Kalijaga's efforts to promote scholarship that adapts to technological progress and is oriented toward broader benefit. (humassk)