1/ It's always surprised me how many people who are interested in technology are unfamiliar with Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs.)
It's a great framework for communicating a technology's maturity and it's time for them to be used outside of aerospace.
benjaminreinhardt.com/trl
It's a great framework for communicating a technology's maturity and it's time for them to be used outside of aerospace.
benjaminreinhardt.com/trl
1/ TRL1 - Basic Principles Observed and Reported
In the world of atoms TRL1 is reporting on an observed phenomenon. In the world of bits TRL1 means showing the properties of an algorithm and maybe writing some pseudocode.
"Hey look! Kerosine tends to explode"
In the world of atoms TRL1 is reporting on an observed phenomenon. In the world of bits TRL1 means showing the properties of an algorithm and maybe writing some pseudocode.
"Hey look! Kerosine tends to explode"
2/ TRL2 - Possible application formulated
TRL2 is where people speculate about the possible uses of a technology.
"We might be able to use kerosine to launch rockets..."
TRL2 is where people speculate about the possible uses of a technology.
"We might be able to use kerosine to launch rockets..."
3/ TRL3 - Proof of Concept
If TRL 2 is saying that you can use X for Y, TRL 3 is showing that you can use X for Y.
"Let's use kerosine to produce enough force to lift something into the air"
If TRL 2 is saying that you can use X for Y, TRL 3 is showing that you can use X for Y.
"Let's use kerosine to produce enough force to lift something into the air"
4/ TRL4 - Breadboard version in lab
This is the first time that you assemble all the components of the ‘real’ system. You need to have at least a simulacra of every piece of the real system.
"Let's set up a separate pump, compressor, and nozzle that produce force"
This is the first time that you assemble all the components of the ‘real’ system. You need to have at least a simulacra of every piece of the real system.
"Let's set up a separate pump, compressor, and nozzle that produce force"
5/ TRL5 - Breadboard version in relevant environment
Now you're in a ‘relevant’ environment. What does it mean to go to a ‘relevant’ environment? It has to do with giving up control over the exact inputs.
"Let's put everything in a vacuum chamber"
Now you're in a ‘relevant’ environment. What does it mean to go to a ‘relevant’ environment? It has to do with giving up control over the exact inputs.
"Let's put everything in a vacuum chamber"
6/ TRL6 - Prototype version in relevant environment
What’s the difference between a prototype and a ‘breadboard version?’ It’s all about the interfaces and the container.
"We've created a one-off assembly of those pieces and shown they still work in the vacuum chamber"
What’s the difference between a prototype and a ‘breadboard version?’ It’s all about the interfaces and the container.
"We've created a one-off assembly of those pieces and shown they still work in the vacuum chamber"
7/ TRL7 - Prototype version in real environment
In traditional NASA TRLs ‘real’ means ‘space’ but it turns out many technologies aren’t intended to be used in space. Yet.
"We've launched that assembly as a secondary payload and shown it still works in space"
In traditional NASA TRLs ‘real’ means ‘space’ but it turns out many technologies aren’t intended to be used in space. Yet.
"We've launched that assembly as a secondary payload and shown it still works in space"
8/ TRL8 - Production version tested in real environment
This difference has a lot to do with manufacturability.
"We've manufactured the actual rocket and launch something with it for the first time!"
This difference has a lot to do with manufacturability.
"We've manufactured the actual rocket and launch something with it for the first time!"
9/ TRL9 - Production version operating in real environment
A TRL9 technology is just a TRL8 technology that has been in the field long enough to have operational problems surface and fix them.
"LAUNCH ALL THE THINGS"
A TRL9 technology is just a TRL8 technology that has been in the field long enough to have operational problems surface and fix them.
"LAUNCH ALL THE THINGS"
10/ Once you start to think in terms of TRLs, there are several intriguing upshots that need a bit more space to explore than Twitter leaves room for: benjaminreinhardt.com/trl
