TRL Technological Readiness Level Scale and Its Modification Perspectives

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to investigate the ways of Technology Readiness Levels scale modification, which is one of the key parts of Technology Readiness Assessment methodology.The article considers advantages and disadvantages of TRL scale. The author proposes an increase of information content using an additional indicator that shows the number of subsystems on a particular level, as well as the order number of the subsystem, on which the new technology currently undergoes testing process. Accordingly, the TRL scale may be modified with the help of an additional measurement axis characterising forces, which are required to overcome each scale sublevel (including duration, labour intensity, number of efforts, number of participants, etc.). It is believed that TRL scale in this representation characterises both quantitative and partially qualitative aspects of the new technology progress process. Consequently, the adequacy and informativity of the entire assessment methodology would increase.