A technology readiness levels (TRLs) calculator software for systems engineering and technology management tool

Abstract

Turkish defense industry and policy makers seek effective and successful system development programs by implementing a validation mechanism to verify the maturity of new technologies being developed in national laboratories and industry. Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) developed by NASA as a general metric of technology advancement and it has been widely accepted as a systems engineering and technology management metric tool. In order to explore the sufficiency of this tool, first of all, academic and applicable studies of army and civil organizations have been searched out and the lessons learned have been analyzed in this study. Thereafter, questionnaires of awareness of TRLs and TRL Calculator have been applied to defense firms in Ankara, and interviews held with the technology developers, firms' speakers and defense authorities. Finally, the applicable algorithm of TRL calculator has been recommended for Turkish defense industry