What is required to establish proof of concept?

[richard4556]

From what I've tried to glean from the internet, the usual requirement to establish proof of concept, is to build a rough prototype. If that rough prototype works, according to some established crieria, then the concept is proven.

I believe the actual concept itself can be very simply described. I think a simple hand-drawn line drawing with a few keywords can often be used to show an engineering concept - using words such as "tube", "centrifugal force", "vortex" (I'm thinking of DYSON).

Can proof of concept be achieved by simulation, thus eliminating the need for a physical prototype? (Specifically, concerning an internal combustion engine).

I'm in the UK and there is seed funding available for a project to establish proof of concept. But, I don't know much about what the project would require, except, apparantly the need for a rough prototype. Thanks.

 

[IRstuff]

Generally a POC must demonstrate its intended function or benefit. This almost always requires a working system, since simulations are abstractions, and may not necessarily capture every nuance that exists in real hardware. Generally, a POC will show a reduction in benefits from the simulation or analysis, due to real-world parasitic losses, etc.

A POC must then be productionized, which may incur further losses from the benefits of the concept.

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[IRstuff]

Case in point is the Boeing 787, which was mostly simulated, prior to first flight. Nonetheless, first articles demonstrated significant deviations from their weight models, forcing a significant delay in production trying to reduce weight.

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[zeusfaber]

It might help to consider why the money is being made available.

If it's just there as slush funding to keep the unemployment figures down, then take what you can get, and keep yourself busy in as many ways as you can imagine.

If, as is more usual (even in the UK), this is a little bit of money being offered to move the idea forward to the point where someone can judge whether it's worth making a much bigger investment in it, then you really need to find out how mature the investor wants the technology to get before they're prepared to buy it.

The concept of "Technology Readiness Level" (fair article on wiki and one UK set of definitions at

http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/BB63...1349AE2B62/0/20090331FATS3_AnnexGtoSch1U.pdf)

might help you. As well as giving you a language to talk to investors with, it should give you a feel for the industry perception of the relative benefits of a bit of modelling and a rough prototype.

A.

 

[richard4556]

Hi. As to the "proof of concept" for the purposes of grant monies, the Technology Strategy Board says:

"Basic Prototyping: Bench-type prototyping to test the technology, science, etc of the idea. It would be expected to perform some or all of the functionality of the final solution but not be in final form. Also, models, drawings and other representations to show how a final solution would work".

http://www.innovateuk.org/_assets/0511/guidance for applicants dop v3.pdf

Okay, that help me to grasp obout PoC.

I'm actually investigating this for a friend who thinks he has a great idea for IC engine. Disregarding for a moment about the chances his engine would ever get to production (very slim I think), and besides the Readiness Level, the issue would a financial one. How much money would it take to get to the point of producing a bench-prototype. I have no idea. What I do know is that according to the Guidance, £100K maximum is available, when the entrepreneur puts in £66K.

If my friend can get £6.6K, his Grant would be £10K. That would be £16.6K to produce a bench-prototype of a rotary IC engine. Impossible?

 

[IRstuff]

If he owned his own CNC, or could modify an existing engine...

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize