Companies are constantly looking for the development of new technologies and gaining competitive advantage in the market. The aim of this thesis was to analyse technological gaps in the development of a new autonomous robotic system for rail maintenance to satisfy Technological Readiness Level (TRL) 7, before the production of the technology. In addition, suggestions and future recommendations were set up to improve innovative projects in the future. After a comprehensive literature review, a coherent strategy was adopted to analyse the current state of the project and its deliverables. The first step was the use of UML diagrams to formalise activities and messages among actors; this step was essential to map the project throughout all the deliverables that will come out after its completion. Then a gap assessment with the comparison of TRL requirements was carried out and activities with skills to fulfil gaps were identified. The identification of gaps was strictly related to the TRL in the Railway Industry Readiness Level, by taking into consideration its description and adoption in the framework used by Network Rail. The development of a tool was accomplished after having completed the gap assessment. The purpose of this instrument was to clarify the TRLs achieved by the company in the project and gave an active contribution to the process to follow throughout the technology maturity path. The tool will assure a solid base on which Network Rail could build up further steps for the technical management of innovative projects, with a significant improvement in the communication flow thanks to the traceability guaranteed by this instrument.
In un mercato in cui lo sviluppo di nuove tecnologie è diventato la principale fonte di vantaggio competitivo, Network Rail sta cercando di sviluppare un nuovo sistema robotico automatizzato per la manutenzione dei binari. L'obiettivo della tesi era valutare la maturità tecnologica del progetto per soddisfare i requisiti descritti dal TRL 7. In aggiunta, suggerimenti e azioni future sono state fornite per migliorare la capacità di gestione dei progetti innovativi in futuro. Dopo una comprensiva revisione letteraria, una coerente strategia è stata adottata nell’analisi dello stato attuale del progetto. Il primo step ha previsto l’utilizzo di diagrammi UML per la formalizzazione delle attività e dei messaggi tra gli attori del progetto, al fine di comprendere ogni dettaglio della maturità. La valutazione del divario tecnologico è stata portata a termine paragonando i requisiti TRL con i deliverables del progetto, individuando attività e competenze necessarie per il loro compimento. Infine, uno strumento è stato sviluppato per completare la valutazione dei gaps, con l’obiettivo di contribuire attivamente al processo di sviluppo tecnologico sia per il progetto analizzato e sia per futuri progetti nel settore ferroviario. Lo strumento assicurerà la capacità dell’azienda Network Rail di tracciare e monitorare i progressi di complessi progetti multi-stakeholder nello sviluppo di nuove tecnologie.
Analisi della maturità tecnologica di un sistema robotico per la manutenzione dei binari
GORGOGLIONE, GIUSEPPE
2017/2018
Abstract
Companies are constantly looking for the development of new technologies and gaining competitive advantage in the market. The aim of this thesis was to analyse technological gaps in the development of a new autonomous robotic system for rail maintenance to satisfy Technological Readiness Level (TRL) 7, before the production of the technology. In addition, suggestions and future recommendations were set up to improve innovative projects in the future. After a comprehensive literature review, a coherent strategy was adopted to analyse the current state of the project and its deliverables. The first step was the use of UML diagrams to formalise activities and messages among actors; this step was essential to map the project throughout all the deliverables that will come out after its completion. Then a gap assessment with the comparison of TRL requirements was carried out and activities with skills to fulfil gaps were identified. The identification of gaps was strictly related to the TRL in the Railway Industry Readiness Level, by taking into consideration its description and adoption in the framework used by Network Rail. The development of a tool was accomplished after having completed the gap assessment. The purpose of this instrument was to clarify the TRLs achieved by the company in the project and gave an active contribution to the process to follow throughout the technology maturity path. The tool will assure a solid base on which Network Rail could build up further steps for the technical management of innovative projects, with a significant improvement in the communication flow thanks to the traceability guaranteed by this instrument.I documenti in UNITESI sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14253/81586