DITMAWALUMNI USU – The Noise and Vibration Control (NVC) Research Team of the Mechanical Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), won second place in the Best Mechanical Analysis category at the 15th Annual National Mechanical Engineering Design Competition 2026, organized by the Indonesian Mechanical Engineering Cooperation Agency (BKSTM-Indonesia) at Universitas Riau, Pekanbaru, on October 15, 2026.
The team consisted of Melwin Erdiansyah Telaumbanua (Student ID 240401005), Rafid Nauval Mulyawan (Student ID 240401003), M. Azam Fauzan (Student ID 240401065), Syama Sundhara (Student ID 250401007), and Mhd. Rasyid Ridho (Student ID 250401060). The NVC Research Team was supervised by Dr.-Ing. Ir. Ikhwansyah Isranuri.
In the competition, the NVC Team presented a proposal entitled “Design and Engineering of a Vibration-Based End-Effector on a Robotic Manipulator as an Auxiliary Tool for Fruit Harvesting: Soft Vibration Stimulus and Acoustic Mechanoreceptor Cells in Coffee Plants.” The idea focuses on developing a robotic manipulator-based tool to assist in coffee fruit harvesting by utilizing soft vibration stimuli and mechanical and acoustic responses in plant cells.
The competition was attended by 24 teams from various higher education institutions across Indonesia, showcasing a range of innovations and technological designs, particularly in mechanical engineering and its applications in the plantation sector. Participants presented their designs and innovative ideas developed to address various needs in the field.
The NVC Team began preparing well in advance of the competition. The team prepared the materials and content for its presentation and participated in every stage of the competition, from submitting the design proposal and undergoing the selection process to the final round, which included a presentation and poster assessment. This preparation enabled the team to participate smoothly throughout the competition.
For the team members, participating in the competition was a valuable experience that broadened their knowledge and allowed them to learn about various innovations from other higher education institutions. They gained new insights through the exchange of ideas and by observing the various designs presented by other participants.
The NVC Team hopes that this achievement will motivate Mechanical Engineering students at USU to participate again in the Mechanical Engineering Design Competition next year with better preparation and results.
This achievement demonstrates the contribution of students from the Faculty of Engineering, USU, to the development of research and innovation in mechanical engineering while strengthening student participation in national-level academic competitions.