What is a technology readiness level (TRL)?
A technology readiness level (TRL) is NASA's nine-step scale for how mature a technology is, from basic research at TRL 1 to flight proven at TRL 9. Here is each level in plain language.
Short answer: A technology readiness level (TRL) is a nine-step scale NASA uses to describe how mature a technology is. TRL 1 is the lowest, where scientific research is just beginning, and TRL 9 is the highest, where the technology has been "flight proven" during a successful mission. A fully functional prototype sits at TRL 6.
The primary source for this article is NASA's page Technology Readiness Levels, last updated June 25, 2026.
What are the nine technology readiness levels?
In NASA's words, "there are nine technology readiness levels. TRL 1 is the lowest and TRL 9 is the highest." Summarized from NASA's definitions:
- TRL 1, basic research. Scientific research is beginning, and results are being translated into future research and development.
- TRL 2, practical application identified. Basic principles have been studied and practical applications can be applied to them. NASA notes this stage is "very speculative," with little to no experimental proof of concept.
- TRL 3, active research and design. Analytical and laboratory studies are generally required, and a proof-of-concept model is often built.
- TRL 4, components tested together. Multiple component pieces are tested with one another.
- TRL 5, breadboard technology. A breadboard version undergoes more rigorous testing than at TRL 4.
- TRL 6, fully functional prototype. The technology has a fully functional prototype or representational model.
- TRL 7, demonstrated in its environment. The working model or prototype is demonstrated in a space environment.
- TRL 8, flight qualified. The technology has been tested and "flight qualified," and is ready to be implemented into an existing technology or system.
- TRL 9, flight proven. The technology has been "flight proven" during a successful mission.
Why does the TRL scale matter?
TRL gives everyone the same words for the same thing. "We have a prototype" can mean a desk mock-up or a field-tested unit. "We are at TRL 4" says exactly which: components have been tested together, but no full prototype exists yet. That shared vocabulary makes it easier to plan the next test, set a budget, and describe the work honestly to partners and funders.
How do you find the TRL of your own invention?
Ask the questions in order and stop at the first "no":
- Do you know the scientific principle the invention relies on? (TRL 1)
- Have you identified a practical use for it? (TRL 2)
- Have you done analysis or lab work, or built a proof of concept? (TRL 3)
- Have you tested the key components together? (TRL 4)
- Has a breadboard version passed more rigorous testing? (TRL 5)
- Do you have a fully functional prototype? (TRL 6)
- Has it been demonstrated in the environment it is meant for? (TRL 7)
Your TRL is the last level where you answered "yes." Most early-stage inventions sit between TRL 1 and TRL 4.
What is an example of a TRL 9 technology?
NASA's Voyager 1 is a vivid one. Its systems have flown for nearly 49 years, and on November 18, 2026, the spacecraft becomes the first human-made object to reach one light-day from Earth. Read our story When will Voyager 1 be one light-day from Earth?.
What do we know, and what is still open?
What is settled: NASA's nine definitions above, which are published and stable.
What takes judgment: placing a specific invention on the scale. The levels describe evidence, so the honest answer depends on what you have actually tested, not on what you expect to work. Outside space programs, "space environment" at TRL 7 is usually read as the real operating environment for the product.
How does Inventi Matrix help with technology readiness?
It also helps assess technology readiness, so you can see where an idea stands and what evidence the next level needs. For what to document at each stage, read What should an invention blueprint include?, and for what the next prototype will cost, see How much does it cost to prototype an invention?.
About Physis Systems
Physis Systems (Physis Defense Systems, Inc.) builds Inventi Matrix, an invention engineering platform available in the United States and Canada at inventimatrix.com, and Lumina AI Companion, a personal AI companion you can meet on the Lumina page.
Frequently asked questions
How many technology readiness levels are there?
There are nine. NASA describes TRL 1 as the lowest, where scientific research is beginning, and TRL 9 as the highest, where a technology has been flight proven during a successful mission.
What TRL is a working prototype?
In NASA's scale, a fully functional prototype or representational model is TRL 6. Testing component pieces together is TRL 4, and a breadboard technology under more rigorous testing is TRL 5.
Is TRL only used for space technology?
NASA publishes the TRL scale, and the same nine-level idea is widely used to describe technology maturity in research funding and engineering programs. Outside space work, levels 7 to 9 are often read as testing in the real operating environment rather than in space.
Can Inventi Matrix help assess technology readiness?
Yes. Inventi Matrix is an invention engineering platform by Physis Systems that turns a plain-language idea into a technical blueprint, CAD geometry, engineering drawings, and a patent draft you can refine, and it helps assess technology readiness. It is available in the United States and Canada at inventimatrix.com.
Turn your idea into a blueprint with Inventi Matrix
Inventi Matrix is an invention engineering platform by Physis Systems. It turns a plain-language idea into a technical blueprint, CAD geometry with a 3D preview, engineering drawings, and a patent draft you can refine. Available in the United States and Canada.
