In one corner of Bandung City, unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) technology is developed by a number of engineers and technicians. Through a lengthy process behind desks, inside assembly rooms, testing areas, and among the aircraft frames, cables, electronic devices, and computer screens, they work to ensure each component functions properly before a drone is flown. From here, the development of unmanned flight technology in Indonesia continues to progress in line with needs across various fields.
BETA-UAS is the name of the place. Established since 2016 by several alumni of the Aeronautical Engineering Department of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), drone development is conducted through various stages, beginning with design, structural engineering, electronic system integration, assembly, and flight testing. Each stage requires precision because a small error in one component can affect the drone's performance when flying in the air.
The drones developed consist of several types, including fixed-wing and multirotor. Fixed-wing aircraft have characteristics similar to conventional airplanes and can be used for flights covering wide areas. Meanwhile, multirotor drones have the ability to take off and land vertically and move more flexibly in confined spaces.
One corner of the technician room at the BETA-UAS production facility, Katapang, Bandung Regency, West Java
The research team is revising the unmanned aerial vehicle design drawings at the BETA-UAS production facility, Katapang, Bandung Regency, West Java
In its development, drones are no longer only used to capture images from the air. Cameras and various sensors they carry can generate data for mapping needs, surveys, area monitoring, agriculture, forestry, infrastructure inspections, and information gathering in areas difficult for humans to access. Flight control systems and data processing also continue to evolve, including the utilization of artificial intelligence and the capability to process data directly in the air.
The products developed by BETA-UAS have already been used in several regions of Indonesia and other countries, including Australia, South Korea, and several countries in the Asian region. This development is part of the journey of unmanned aerial vehicle technology which is increasingly used for various needs.
However, behind every flight, there is a process that is not always visible. There are hands assembling components, eyes inspecting every connection, screens displaying data, and engineers continuously observing drone movements from the ground. Testing, failures, evaluation, and repairs are part of the journey before a drone takes to the skies again.
Workers complete the production of unmanned aerial vehicles or drones at the BETA-UAS production facility, Katapang, Bandung Regency, West Java
Workers solder PCB modules for unmanned aerial vehicles or drones at the BETA-UAS production facility, Katapang, Bandung Regency, West Java
From a workshop, that dream gradually finds its wings. It traverses rice fields, forests, industrial areas, mountains, and even crosses national borders. Every flight marks that the ability to innovate knows no geographical boundaries, as long as there is knowledge, hard work, and confidence to keep moving forward.
And in the sky over Bandung, that dream continues to fly carrying hopes that one day Indonesian-made technology will not only be a source of pride in its own country but also trusted and inspire the world. Because the sky is no longer merely a space to be flown, but a place where the dreams of the nation’s children find their direction.
Workers complete the production of unmanned aerial vehicles or drones at the BETA-UAS production facility, Katapang, Bandung Regency, West Java
Workers carry out the painting process during the production of unmanned aerial vehicles or drones at the BETA-UAS production facility, Katapang, Bandung Regency, West Java
Photo and Text: Raisan Al Farisi
Machines cut wooden parts for drone protective casing at the BETA-UAS production facility, Katapang, Bandung Regency, West Java
Workers complete the production of unmanned aerial vehicles or drones at the BETA-UAS production facility, Katapang, Bandung Regency, West Java
The unmanned aerial vehicle BETA-UAS Omnibe model has been completed at the BETA-UAS production facility, Katapang, Bandung Regency, West Java
Workers prepare to fly the Omnibe drone during testing at Sulaiman Airbase, Bandung Regency, West Java
Pilot and Co-Pilot conduct testing of the Omnibe drone at Sulaiman Airbase, Bandung Regency, West Java
The pilot monitors the flight distance mapping screen during testing of the Omnibe drone at Sulaiman Airbase, Bandung Regency, West Java
Workers carry the Omnibe drone after testing at Sulaiman Airbase, Bandung Regency, West Java
Editor: Widodo S Jusuf
The caption is automatically translated by application. Click here for the Bahasa Indonesia version.
