Pilot projects for technology readiness

Neil Williams  |  September 27, 2024

In technology development, pilots are critical steps toward validating innovations before full-scale deployment. Over the years, Tilix AI have been involved with pilots of varying shapes and sizes. We have observed that the high-level goals of a pilot typically fall into one or more of the following categories, often aligning with the Technology Readiness Levels (as defined by the European Union)

1. Scale

• Goal: Validate the system’s ability to scale effectively.
• Description: This focuses on ensuring that the technology can handle increasing loads or expanded use cases without degradation in performance. A pilot under this goal tests if the technology can operate efficiently at larger scales.
• Example: In a smart energy grid project, a pilot might involve scaling the system from one neighborhood to multiple districts to ensure stable data transmission, load balancing, and integration with legacy systems.
• TRL: 6-7, moving towards TRL 8, where the system is demonstrated in operational environments.

2. Feature Completeness

• Goal: Test and refine core and optional features.
• Description: Focus on validating new or critical features of the technology, ensuring that they work as intended and meet user needs. It may also involve adjusting or dropping features based on pilot feedback.
• Example: In a mobile app for managing electric vehicle (EV) charging, the pilot may test features like user interface improvements, dynamic pricing, or integration with home energy management systems.
• TRL: 5-6, testing and validating features in relevant environments.

3. Efficiency

• Goal: Optimize resource usage, reducing costs or improving performance.
• Description: This goal is to validate whether the technology operates efficiently in terms of energy consumption, speed, or other resources, identifying areas to streamline operations and reduce waste.
• Example: In a cloud computing solution, the pilot may test how efficiently the system manages resources such as CPU and memory in response to varying workloads.
• TRL: 6-7, focusing on validating operational efficiency in relevant or operational environments.

4. Reliability and Stability

• Goal: Ensure consistent and reliable performance under various conditions.
• Description: This involves stress-testing the system to ensure that it remains stable and functional over time, particularly under high load, fluctuating environmental conditions, or in different geographic locations.
• Example: A pilot for a renewable energy system might test the technology’s resilience to varying weather conditions and intermittent power supply.
• TRL: 7-8, confirming stability and reliability in operational environments.

5. User Acceptance and Feedback

• Goal: Validate user experience and gather feedback for refinement.
• Description: This involves piloting the technology with a subset of users to assess usability, gather feedback, and identify areas for improvement in terms of user experience and design.
• Example: A pilot of an AI-powered customer support tool might focus on user satisfaction, ease of use, and whether users find the AI responses accurate and helpful.
• TRL: 5-6, with emphasis on real-world user interaction and feedback.

6. Regulatory Compliance

• Goal: Ensure the technology meets regulatory standards.
• Description: This goal ensures that the technology complies with all relevant legal and regulatory requirements, which is particularly crucial in sectors like energy, healthcare, or finance.
• Example: In a fintech app pilot, testing compliance with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) or anti-money laundering (AML) regulations could be the primary focus.
• TRL: 6-8, depending on the sector, with pilots often being run to validate the technology in a regulatory context before broader deployment.

7. Market Viability

• Goal: Validate the product’s commercial potential and market fit.
• Description: This pilot focuses on determining whether the product will be viable in the market, often assessing price sensitivity, customer adoption rates, and competitive differentiation.
• Example: A pilot of a new subscription model for a SaaS platform might test pricing tiers, customer willingness to pay, and the overall value proposition.
• TRL: 7-8, where the technology is nearing market readiness.

8. Integration with Existing Systems

• Goal: Ensure the technology can be integrated smoothly with legacy systems or third-party solutions.
• Description: Pilots in this area focus on interoperability, ensuring that the new technology can function alongside or within existing systems without causing disruptions.
• Example: A smart metering system may be piloted to ensure seamless integration with existing grid infrastructure and billing systems.
• TRL: 6-7, focusing on integration in relevant environments.

9. Security and Privacy

• Goal: Test the robustness of security and privacy features.
• Description: Focus on validating that the technology can withstand cyberattacks, data breaches, and other threats, ensuring sensitive data is protected.
• Example: A pilot of a healthcare app might test data encryption, access controls, and secure communication channels to safeguard patient information.
• TRL: 6-7, testing security in an operational environment.

Summing up

These goals help ensure that the technology is ready for broader deployment, either by scaling, improving features, or meeting regulatory and market requirements.