Andrew Faulkner 1Technology Readiness Levels4th SKADS Workshop, Lisbon

Technology Readiness LevelsTechnology Readiness Levels

TRLsTRLs

Andrew Faulkner

Andrew Faulkner 2Technology Readiness Levels4th SKADS Workshop, Lisbon

PurposePurpose

1. To identify where we are in the long term development cycle of the SKA technology

2. To identify ‘missing’ development work

3. To convince ourselves and the international community that we are ‘on-track’

Andrew Faulkner 3Technology Readiness Levels4th SKADS Workshop, Lisbon

Tech. Readiness Level Description

1. Basic principles observed and reported

This is the lowest "level" of technology maturation. At this level, scientific research begins to be translated into applied research and development.

2. Technology concept and/or application formulated

Once basic physical principles are observed, then at the next level of maturation, practical applications of those characteristics can be 'invented' or identified. At this level, the application is still speculative: there is not experimental proof or detailed analysis to support the conjecture.

3. Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept

At this step in the maturation process, active research and development (R&D) is initiated. This must include both analytical studies to set the technology into an appropriate context and laboratory-based studies to physically validate that the analytical predictions are correct. These studies and experiments should constitute "proof-of-concept" validation of the applications/concepts formulated at TRL 2.

4. Component and/or breadboard validation in laboratory environment

Following successful "proof-of-concept" work, basic technological elements must be integrated to establish that the "pieces" will work together to achieve concept-enabling levels of performance for a component and/or breadboard. This validation must be devised to support the concept that was formulated earlier, and should also be consistent with the requirements of potential system applications. The validation is relatively "low-fidelity" compared to the eventual system: it could be composed of ad hoc discrete components in a laboratory.

5. Component and/or breadboard validation in relevant environment

At this level, the fidelity of the component and/or breadboard being tested has to increase significantly. The basic technological elements must be integrated with reasonably realistic supporting elements so that the total applications (component-level, sub-system level, or system-level) can be tested in a 'simulated' or somewhat realistic environment.

6. System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment

A major step in the level of fidelity of the technology demonstration follows the completion of TRL 5. At TRL 6, a representative model or prototype system or system - which would go well beyond ad hoc, 'patch-cord' or discrete component level breadboarding - would be tested in a relevant environment. At this level, if the only 'relevant environment' is the environment of space, then the model/prototype must be demonstrated in space.

7. System prototype demonstration in a real environment

TRL 7 is a significant step beyond TRL 6, requiring an actual system prototype demonstration in a site environment. The prototype should be at a representative scale of the planned operational system and the demonstration must take place at a site with similar characteristics to the target site.

8. Actual system completed and 'qualified' through test and demonstration

In almost all cases, this level is the end of true 'system development' for most technology elements. This might include integration of new technology into an existing system.

9. Actual system proven through successful actual operations

In almost all cases, the end of last 'bug fixing' aspects of true 'system development'. This might include integration of new technology into an existing system. This TRL does not include planned product improvement of ongoing or reusable systems.

NASA TRL definitionsNASA TRL definitions

Andrew Faulkner 4Technology Readiness Levels4th SKADS Workshop, Lisbon

TRLs mapped to SKA timelineTRLs mapped to SKA timeline

Ref: NASA http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology_Readiness_Level

SKA in operation

SKA Phase 1

Target for AAVP

PrepSKA & SKADS

SKADS

Mostly pre-SKADS workBasic TechnologyResearch

Research to ProveFeasibility

TechnologyDevelopment

TechnologyDemonstration

System/SubsystemDevelopment

Full System Test& Operations

Andrew Faulkner 5Technology Readiness Levels4th SKADS Workshop, Lisbon

Review undertakenReview undertaken

Andrew Faulkner 6Technology Readiness Levels4th SKADS Workshop, Lisbon

TRL: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

DS3-T1 Phase Transfer: optical txterminal equipment

Analogue fibre data links

COTS Data links

Component data links:DFB laser based link subsystemsComponents for DFB laser subsystems10 Gbps 1550 nm SMF subsystemsComponents for 10 Gbps 1550 nm SMF link

DS3-T2 Backend Processing

Correlator

Software architecture

DS3-T3 Design of SKACost tool and simulation

Conceptual design of SKA

Station level beamforming

DS3 TRLsDS3 TRLs

Andrew Faulkner 7Technology Readiness Levels4th SKADS Workshop, Lisbon

TRL: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

DS4-T1 LNA InPSi-GeSiGaAs

ADC InPSi

DS4-T2 Digitisation require’ts

DS4-T3 RFI algorithms: ExcisionDetectionSpectral filteringSpatial filteringSingle channel filtering

DS4-T4 Antenna: Vivaldinon-Vivaldi

array configurationDifferential LNA + matching

DS4-T5 Beamforming: AnaloguePhotonicDigital algorithmsDigital hardware

DS4-T6 Mechanical Const’n: Array constructionCoolingElectronics constructionMaterial choice

Analogue sig. cond. RFI ShieldingClock dist’n : Station level

Board level

Andrew Faulkner 8Technology Readiness Levels4th SKADS Workshop, Lisbon

TRL: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

DS5-T1 Array performance

DS5-T2 Low cost manufacturabilityTile electronicsDigital processingArray material choice

DS6 System Clock distribution

DS5 & 6 TRLsDS5 & 6 TRLs

Andrew Faulkner 9Technology Readiness Levels4th SKADS Workshop, Lisbon

ObservationsObservations

• SKADS is where we would expect: TRL 3 – 6

• The lowest TRLs typically require large implementations

• There will be some ‘normalising’ of the figures

• The relationship of today’s design and SKA is not clear

enough

But……..

Andrew Faulkner 10Technology Readiness Levels4th SKADS Workshop, Lisbon

SystemSystem related TRLs related TRLs

We need to know/show system parameters are met e.g.:

• System temperature

• Dynamic range performance

• Cost!

• Beam purity

• Polarisation

• AAs meet Power requirements

• etc

This is tricky!

Need to convert system level work

into technical performance measures

Andrew Faulkner 11Technology Readiness Levels4th SKADS Workshop, Lisbon

Over this final year of SKADS

We will be refining the TRL of

System and Components

Please keep commenting …..