The ROV was designed and assembled as part of a Capstone Project undertaken by three undergraduate electrical engineering students, Ibrahim H. Mulyana, Riswandha Mashuri, and Wafi A. Yasin, with additional technical support from Matthew Troy Putra, S.T., as a master’s student in electrical engineering. Designed for operation at depths of up to 50 metres, the ROV is intended to acquire high-resolution imagery for underwater photogrammetric mapping. During the sea trial, the vehicle successfully operated at depths of approximately 20 metres and captured detailed images of the seafloor despite environmental and operational limitations encountered in the field.

Additional development and testing are required before the system can be used for a detailed underwater object mapping missions in the foreseeable future. “The ROV we tested in Seribu Islands is the result of the third iteration of development. Many of the lessons we have learned could only be obtained through direct field testing under real operational conditions,” Hilton Tnunay said. “We are currently limiting our sea trials to be conducted during transitional season to minimize exposure to extreme weather conditions. Future work will include more comprehensive laboratory testing to evaluate motor performance against currents and to assess the structural resilience of the vehicle under wave-induced loading,” explained Gabriella Alodia, Ph.D., from Geodesy and Geomatics Study Programme, a member of the research team.

The next pase of testing is planned for October 2026, with the goal of surveying and mapping one of several known shipwreck sites in Seribu Islands waters. “If we can generate detailed maps and three-dimensional models of underwater archaeological sites, we will not only improve documentation and support heritage tourism but also gain valuable insights into the historical processes that led to these shipwrecks. Such information may help us better understand the circumstances surrounding these maritime incidents,” said Dr. Harry O. Sofian from the Research Centre for Archaeometry, BRIN. Researchers hope that the project will contribute to the advancement of Indonesian underwater observation and mapping technologies while strengthening long-term collaboration among universities, government research institutions, and international partners in the field of marine observation and mapping.