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Chandigarh University researchers use Artificial Intelligence to develop Model for predicting Accurate Crop Yield; Innovation to benefit Indian Farmers

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Researchers have leveraged Climate Data and Satellite Technology for developing the predictive model

CHANDIGARH, India, June 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In a significant advancement for smart agriculture and precision farming, researchers at Chandigarh University have developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Transformer Model that is capable of accurately predicting crop yields using satellite imagery, climate data and historical agricultural records.

The innovation would be instrumental in empowering farmers, policymakers and agricultural agencies to make informed decisions while strengthening food security and advancing resilient farm management.

The research, led by Kusum Lata, Assistant Professor Department of Computer Science Engineering, Chandigarh University, Dr Navneet Kaur Professor Department of CSE and Dr Simrandeep Singh Professor from University Centre of Research and Development at Chandigarh University that focuses on improving crop yield forecasting in Punjab’s agricultural heartland. The study, recently presented at the 2026 International Conference on Signal Processing and Electronics Design (ICSPED) at Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology, Chandigarh that introduces a lightweight transformer-based system that leverages multi-source data to estimate crop production before harvest with greater accuracy and lower computational costs.

Notably, the accurate crop yield prediction has become increasingly important as farmers face growing challenges from climate variability, changing weather patterns and rising food demand. Traditional field surveys are often time-consuming, labour-intensive and limited in scale. The Chandigarh University researchers sought to overcome these limitations by integrating advanced AI techniques with real-time Earth observation data.

Kusum Lata, Assistant Professor Department of Computer Science Engineering at CU said, “The transformer model utilizes data from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellites which are advanced Earth observation satellites operated by the European Space Agency (ESA) to continuously monitor agricultural fields and provide information on crop growth, vegetation health, soil moisture and field conditions. The satellite observations are combined with climatic variables such as rainfall, temperature and soil moisture, along with historical crop production records, creating a comprehensive picture of crop performance throughout the growing season.”

Kusum added, “Unlike conventional machine learning models, the newly developed lightweight transformer can identify critical crop growth stages and learn complex temporal patterns that influence final yields. We have designed the model to deliver high predictive performance that require fewer computational resources, making it suitable for practical deployment in large-scale agricultural monitoring systems.”

“The model was evaluated on four major crops cultivated in Ludhiana district, namely paddy, maize, moong and sugarcane, using data collected between 2019 and 2023. Experimental results demonstrated that the transformer model outperformed widely used approaches such as Random Forest and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models, indicating stronger agreement between predicted and actual yields. The framework also recorded lower prediction errors and improved computational efficiency.

Kusum has worked as a Junior Research Fellow in the Agriculture and Crop Monitoring Division at Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC), PAU Ludhiana, contributed to geospatial research projects, including crop residue burning analysis using remote sensing and geospatial mapping techniques.

The study further revealed that the lightweight architecture requires nearly 40 percent fewer parameters than conventional transformer models while delivering faster and accurate predictions. This level of efficiency makes this automatic framework suitable for near real-time agricultural applications, including regional crop monitoring, production forecasting and early warning systems.

According to the researchers, the ability to accurately forecast crop yields before harvest can have significant implications for farmers and governments alike. Reliable forecasts can support agricultural planning, optimize resource allocation, strengthen crop insurance mechanisms and improve market management strategies. In a state like Punjab, where agriculture plays a central role in the economy, such technologies can contribute to more resilient and sustainable farming systems.

The researchers also shared that one of the key strengths of the model lies in its ability to combine multiple sources of information into a single predictive model. By integrating satellite-derived observations with climatic and historical datasets, the system captures the complex interactions that influence crop productivity and provides a more robust understanding of agricultural outcomes.

The future developments will also focus on enabling near real-time forecasting through cloud-based platforms, paving the way for broader adoption of AI-driven decision support systems in agriculture, added the Chandigarh University researchers.

About Chandigarh University

Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC.

Website address: https://www.cuchd.in/

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Seatrium and Karpowership Sign Contract for a Series of Whale Class Powership Conversion and Integration Projects

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SINGAPORE, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Seatrium Limited and its strategic partner, floating power leader Karpowership, have strengthened their longstanding collaboration with the award of a contract for the development, major conversion and integration of Karpowership’s third-generation hydrogen-ready Whale Class Powerships, reinforcing both companies’ commitment to delivering reliable, flexible and sustainable energy solutions to meet growing global electricity demand.

Under the contract, Seatrium will undertake the major conversion work and integration of five Whale Class Powerships. Seatrium’s scope of work encompasses equipment integration, mechanical completion and pre-commissioning works. Engineering activities are currently underway – both parties are working closely to advance the project’s execution phase progressively, with the first vessel in the series targeted for arrival in Seatrium Tuas Boulevard Yard in December 2027.

Powerships are floating power plants equipped with hydrogen-ready multi-fuel generation systems and integrated onboard substations that connect directly to national electricity grids. Leveraging Karpowership’s plug-and-play design, they can begin generating electricity in as little as 30 days. The next-generation Whale Class offers Karpowership’s highest capacity, engineered to deploy up to 600 MW of immediate, grid-ready power using an ultra-efficient footprint optimised for seamless, continuous fuel supply.

By combining advanced power generation technologies with maritime engineering excellence, these vessels will enhance energy security while providing the flexibility to support diverse market requirements.

Mr Alvin Gan, Executive Vice President, Repairs and Upgrades, Seatrium, said, “This significant milestone marks Seatrium’s first major conversion work and integration of Karpowership’s Whale Class Powerships. We are proud to support Karpowership’s drive to pioneer innovative floating power solutions and the next phase of its fleet development, bringing our capabilities in complex vessel integration and offshore engineering to the project. We thank Karpowership for the continued trust and look forward to advancing cutting-edge floating solutions that bolster energy resilience worldwide.”

Building on a strategic relationship established in 2018, Seatrium and Karpowership share an ambition to deepen their partnership and shape the next generation of energy infrastructure, strengthening energy resilience in Singapore and worldwide.

Mr Gokhan Kocak, Chief Technical Operations Officer, Karpowership, said, “Karpowership has transformed global power generation with its innovative Powership model, delivering fast-track and dependable electricity solutions to millions worldwide. The next-generation Whale Class Powerships demonstrate our continued commitment to innovation, operational excellence and energy security. We are pleased to build on our strong partnership with Seatrium, whose proven expertise in complex vessel integration make them an ideal partner.”

The contract marks the next step following an earlier Letter of Intent (LOI) signed in August 2025, solidifying the long-term partnership between the two companies. The LOI had provided for three FSRU conversions and the potential integration of up to six new-generation Powerships. Since 2018, Seatrium has successfully delivered seven FSRU conversion projects to Karpowership, with the eighth and ninth FSRU conversion projects secured this year.

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SOURCE Karpowership

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Scage Future Announces Effective Date for ADS Ratio Change

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NANJING, China, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Scage Future (“Scage Future” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: SCAG), a provider of new energy and zero-emission heavy-duty commercial vehicles and e-fuel solutions, today announced the effective date and new CUSIP number for the previously announced change in the ratio of its American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) to its ordinary shares (the “ADS Ratio”), from the current ADS Ratio of one (1) ADS to one (1) ordinary share to a new ADS Ratio of one (1) ADS to fifteen (15) ordinary shares (the “ADS Ratio Change”). The ADS Ratio Change will be effective on October 27, 2026 (the “Effective Date”).

For Scage Future’s ADS holders, the change in the ADS Ratio will have the same effect as a one-for-fifteen reverse ADS split. On the Effective Date, holders of ADSs will be entitled to receive one (1) new ADS for every fifteen (15) existing ADSs then held, and the exchange will occur automatically, with the then-held ADSs being cancelled and new ADSs being issued by Citibank, N.A., as the depositary bank for the Company’s ADS program (the “Depositary Bank”). Holders of ADSs will not be required to take any action in connection with the ADS Ratio Change.

No fractional new ADSs will be issued in connection with the change in the ADS Ratio. Instead, fractional entitlements to new ADSs will be aggregated and sold by the Depositary Bank, and the net cash proceeds from the sale of the fractional ADS entitlements (after deduction of fees, taxes and expenses) will be distributed to the applicable ADS holders by the Depositary Bank.

The change in the ADS Ratio will have no impact on Scage Future’s underlying ordinary shares, and no ordinary shares will be issued or cancelled in connection with the change in the ADS Ratio. Scage Future’s ADSs will continue to be traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “SCAG.” In connection with the ADS Ratio Change, the CUSIP number for the ADSs will change from 80590A105 to a new CUSIP number of 80590A204, effective as of the Effective Date.

As a result of the change in the ADS Ratio, the ADS trading price is expected to increase proportionally, although the Company can give no assurance that the ADS trading price after the change in the ADS Ratio will be equal to or greater than fifteen times the ADS trading price before the change.

About Scage Future

Scage Future is a leading zero-emission technology provider in China, dedicated to decarbonizing global commercial transportation through its portfolio of advanced heavy-duty NEV trucks and innovative e-fuel systems. Through strategic partnerships with top-tier vehicle manufacturers and a strong quality control framework, the Company delivers intelligent, high-performance NEVs addressing the transport needs across logistics, mining and port operations. The Company has a proven track record in the design, production, and testing of next-generation heavy-duty NEVs, including the Dragon II plug-in hybrid dump truck, Galaxy II plug-in hybrid truck, and autonomous tractor trailer.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the completion of the ADS Ratio Change on the Effective Date, the anticipated effects of the ADS Ratio Change on the trading price of the Company’s ADSs, and the Company’s expectations regarding the treatment of fractional ADS entitlements and the exchange of existing ADSs for new ADSs. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “approximates,” “assesses,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

For more information, please contact:

Scage Future
Investor Relations
Emily Wang
Head of Investor Relations
Email: scageIR@scagefd.com

 

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SOURCE Scage Future

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Hanwha Power Receives ABS Approval in Principle for 1,700 TEU Battery-Powered Containership Design

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Fully electric propulsion design featuring approximately 151 MWh of energy storage strengthens capabilities in zero-carbon maritime transportIntegrated solution combines electric propulsion, and containerized battery energy storage systemsExpanded eco-friendly marine propulsion portfolio lays the groundwork for entry into the next-generation zero-carbon vessel market

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hanwha Power announced that it had received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its design of a 1,700 TEU battery-powered containership.

The certificate presentation ceremony took place on October 22, local time, at the MHE (Maritime Hybrid, Electric & Hydrogen Fuel Cells) Conference & Exhibition 2026 in Bergen, Norway. Jong-kyu Hwang, Vice President, Technology Solutions at Hanwha Power, attended the ceremony alongside senior representatives from ABS. The event runs from October 21 to 23 at the Scandic Hotel Bergen City.

The newly approved design concept features a fully electric container vessel powered by a large-scale 151 MWh Energy Storage System (ESS). Electrical energy stored in containerized battery units serves as the vessel’s primary propulsion source, enabling operation without direct carbon emissions through the use of port charging infrastructure.

The use of containerized batteries, which can be handled and stowed like standard cargo containers, enhances space efficiency, maximizes cargo capacity, and optimizes overall vessel performance. This approach also supports flexible battery replacement and scalable operation, offering a practical pathway for the decarbonization of short-sea and regional container transport.

The AiP strengthens Hanwha Power’s capabilities in fully electric vessel design using large-scale battery energy storage and expands its portfolio of marine propulsion solutions. The company plans to build on this achievement to pursue opportunities in the next-generation zero-carbon maritime transport market.

Alongside the approval, Hanwha Power has also completed the basic design of a 1,000 TEU battery-powered container vessel. Building on its expertise in vessel design across multiple ship classes, the company aims to develop a comprehensive lineup of electric-propulsion vessels tailored to a wide range of operating conditions and customer needs.

“This AiP from ABS marks an important step in extending Hanwha Power’s marine technology capabilities to fully electric vessels powered by large-scale battery systems,” said Jong-kyu Hwang, Vice President, Technology Solutions at Hanwha Power. “We will address the needs of the next-generation zero-carbon maritime transport market with integrated solutions that combine electric propulsion and containerized battery system technologies.”

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