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TRL 1: Basic principles observed and reported



Description:

Lowest level of technology readiness. Scientific research begins to be translated into applied research and development (R&D). Examples might include paper studies of a technologys basic properties.





Supporting Information:

Published research that identifies the principles that underlie this technology. References to who, where, when.

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TRL 1: Basic principles observed and reported



Description:

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



I hate to rain on your parade, but I definitely agree with the assessment that the emdrive is not at TRL 1. Exact definitions vary, but it is generally accepted that TRL 1 is where a defined scientific phenomena has reached a point of understanding where people can begin to propose technology concepts (i.e. real world applications that make use of the phenomenon as the operating principle). TRL 1 requires therefore that the underlying phenomenon is well documented, it's basic characteristics understood and the variables that impact the phenomenon are known. This is clearly not the case for the emdrive, as we still don't know IF it works, much less HOW.Here is the DOD's take on TRL 1 from the wiki page Is there any published information that identifies the principles underlying the emdrive? (And of course Shawyer's publications are a non-starter since they aren't even internally consistent, much less consistent with known physics)If we want to stick with NASA, seeing as this is NSF:So the emdrive still doesn't fit the bill, in my opinion. Without any knowledge of the emdrives operating principle, all research on it is as basic and blue sky as can be.As someone who works with TRLs (although not the exact definitions given above), I would call the emdrive a pre TRL technology concept. It is too speculative in performance, and unjustified theoretically, to warrant a TRL. No one has proposed and proven, via experimentation, what the supposed operating principle of the emdrive is. No operating principle, no TRL 1 (in my opinion at least).