Consider using NASA’s technology readiness level to help describe the maturity of a design.
| TRL[1] | Definition | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basic principles observed and reported. | Scientific knowledge generated underpinning hardware technology concepts/applications. |
| 2 | Technology concept and/or application formulated. | Invention begins, practical application is identified but is speculative, no experimental proof or detailed analysis is available to support the conjecture |
| 3 | Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept. | Analytical studies place the technology in an appropriate context and laboratory demonstrations, modeling and simulation validate analytical prediction. |
| 4 | Component and/or breadboard validation in laboratory environment. | A low fidelity system/component breadboard is built and operated to demonstrate basic functionality and critical test environments, and associated performance predictions are defined relative to the final operating environment. |
| 5 | Component and/or breadboard validation in relevant environment. | A medium fidelity system/component brassboard is built and operated to demonstrate overall performance in a simulated operational environment with realistic support elements that demonstrates overall performance in critical areas. Performance predictions are made for subsequent development phases. |
| 6 | System/sub-system model or prototype demonstration in an operational environment. | A high fidelity system/component prototype that adequately addresses all critical scaling issues is built and operated in a relevant environment to demonstrate operations under critical environmental conditions. |
| 7 | System prototype demonstration in an operational environment. | A high fidelity engineering unit that adequately addresses all critical scaling issues is built and operated in a relevant environment to demonstrate performance in the actual operational environment and platform (ground, airborne, or space). |
| 8 | Actual system completed and “flight qualified” through test and demonstration. | The final product in its final configuration is successfully demonstrated through test and analysis for its intended operational environment and platform (ground, airborne, or space). |
| 9 | Actual system flight proven through successful mission operations. | The final product is successfully operated in an actual mission. |