Previous 2. Mapping the technology
“How can I compare two completely different technologies?“ is probably one of the first questions you are asking yourself. Lucky for us, this question was answered in a paper by John C. Mankins from NASA in 1995 in which he introduced Technology Readiness Levels.**(15)**
“Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) are a systematic metric/measurement system that supports assessments of the maturity of a particular technology and the consistent comparison of maturity between different types of technology.” (16)
In short, he developed a system that allows us to compare technology. There are nine TRLs, which help us to compare the maturity of our technology with others:
Figure 5 - TRLs own illustration based on Mankins (1995, p. 2-5)
Step 1: The only step in this method is to discuss and define the TRL of your technology. At some points, the TRLS sound a little “spaced out”, but the “space environment” or a “successful mission” is equal to a real-world test or final product.
15 & 16 Mankins, J., 1995. Technology Readiness Levels.