What are Technology Readiness Levels (TRL)?

Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) are a method for understanding the technical maturity of a technology during its acquisition phase. TRLs allow engineers to have a consistent datum of reference for understanding technology evolution, regardless of their technical background.

If you have any questions or need help, email us to get expert advice:

What Do TRLs Measure?

Originally developed by NASA in the 1970s for space exploration technologies, TRLs measure the maturity level of a technology throughout its research, development and deployment phase progression. TRLs are based on a scale from 1 to 9, with 9 being the most mature technology.

Many organisations have hyundaisemarang.id implemented TRLs for their own purposes, with certain organisations, such as the European Union (EU), further normalising the NASA readiness-level definitions, allowing for easier translation to multiple industry sectors – not just space exploration.

The EU defines the nine levels as follows:

Addressing Technology Readiness Levels

Systematic addressing of TRLs is required, allowing a technology to evolve from conception through to research, development and deployment. Universities, along with government funding sources, focus on TRLs 1-4, while the private sector focuses on TRLs 7-9.

The term ‘Valley of Death’ represents the often neglected addressing of TRLs 4 through to 7, where neither academia nor the private sector prioritise investment. Consequently, many technologies, albeit promising, finish their maturity journey prior to deployment.

To bridge the valley of death, collaborative efforts are often required. TWI has a long history of working with its Members and academia, across a range of industry sectors, to fulfil this need. Discussed below are examples of these collaborations.

TWI collaborated with aerospace contractor Airbus Defence and Space to satisfy a European Space Agency request to investigate cost-effective manufacturing methods for titanium alloy propellant tanks. The consortium, making use of TWI’s expertise, raised the TRL of stationary shoulder friction stir welding of titanium alloy propellant tanks to TRL 6.

Collaborating closely with Rolls-Royce, TWI, using laser additive manufacturing, produced nickel alloy seal segments for the Intermediate Pressure stage of a Trent engine. This involved TWI taking the technology from a laboratory stage (TRL 3) through process development to successful engine testing (TRL 7).

TWI has decades of experience working with the automotive industry on a variety of different challenges and developments, including electric vehicle battery welding,  pushing concepts through to TRL 7 and beyond.

The Non-Metallic Innovation Centre, housed at TWI’s Cambridge facility, was created alongside Saudi Aramco Technologies Company (AramcoTech) and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) to investigate and advance the use of non-metallic materials for industrial applications. The centre conducts a research programme covering TRLs 1-9.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *