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A prototype is generally defined as a preliminary version of a product, technology, or service that is aimed to test and demonstrate its functionalities.*

Looking at the topic from the point of view of an R&D service provider of unique measurement solutions, based on MicroWire sensors – RVmagnetics identifies the Prototype in the context of a science-backed R&D startup company. In this concept – a prototype is typically a physically or digitally constructed representation of the product or technology that the company is working on. It is used to test and evaluate the feasibility, functionality, and effectiveness of the proposed solution.

Definition of Prototyping

Prototyping allows the company to gather feedback from potential users and make necessary modifications to the design before launching the final product. It is an important step in the product development process, as it helps the company to validate its ideas and make informed decisions about the direction of the project.

There are several different types of prototypes that can be used in the product development process. These types can be classified as:

  • Concept prototypes: These are high-level prototypes that are used to test and evaluate the basics, or rather – the main concept or idea behind a proposed product or technology. They are typically very simple and may not include all of the features or functionality of the final product, however these are not simply Proof of Concepts neither as they showcase how the final product will be featured.
  • Design prototypes: These are appearance proves, may include some of the key features and functionality of the final product, but the final functionality is not the main objective, the objective is to showcase the fitting of the functionalities in the proposed appearance.
  • Functional prototypes: These are prototypes that are fully functional and include all of the features and functionality of the final product. They are typically used to test and evaluate the usability and performance of the proposed product or technology. This is a rather close step to Minimum Viable Product.
  • User experience prototypes: These are prototypes that are specifically designed to test and evaluate the user experience of a proposed product or technology. They may include elements of the product's inter­face, such as buttons, menus, and navigation, but may not include all of the functionality of the final product.
  • Scale models: These are physical models of a proposed product that are used to test and evaluate the product's size, shape, and proportions. They may be created using a variety of materials, including plastic, wood, or metal.
  • Digital prototypes: These are prototypes that are created using computer-aided design (CAD) software. They are typically used to test and evaluate the design and functionality of a proposed product or technology in a virtual environment (e.g. Ansys).

The type of prototype that is used in the product development process will depend on the specific needs and goals of the project. Some projects may require multiple types of prototypes, or multiple iterations of the same prototype, while others may only require a single type. The choice of the prototype will also be influenced by the stage of the product development process, the resources and expertise available, and the intended use of the prototype.

Prototype, is not a product, this we defined already, however, let’s quickly brush over what else a prototype is Not, in the context of the product development cycle.

Prototype vs Proof of Concept (POC)

Sure, a prototype proves a conceptual point of a final product/technology – and this might just seem like wordplay, however when a new product co-development is at stake, two or more companies should try and agree on the definitions as well, so as to have clear communication between all parties.

For RVmagnetics, with the perspective of Research & Development activities to custom-create something that hasn’t been done yet – a Prototype and a Proof of Concept (POC) are two different stages in the product development cycle.

A prototype is a preliminary version of a product or technology that is used for static/dynamic testing and demonstration purposes. It is typically a physically or digitally constructed representation of the product or technology that the company is working on. It is used to test and evaluate the feasibility, functionality, and effectiveness of the proposed solution. Prototyping allows the company to gather feedback from potential users and make necessary modifications to the design before launching the final product.

On the other hand, a proof of concept (POC) is a demonstration of the feasibility of a proposed concept.{target:_blan­k; title:article} or solution. It is typically a smaller-scale version of the final product, and is used to test the basic functionality and underlying principles of the proposed solution.

Some would say a POC is not only important for validating the possibility of certain features but also for identifying the obstacles and risks that will be necessary to face in the further transformation phase of the POC into a Prototype, and eventually a product.

In other, simpler words – a Proof of Concept shows if a feature will work, and a Prototype shows how the final product will operate.

Both prototype and POC are important steps in the product development cycle, as they help the company to validate its ideas and make informed decisions about the direction of the project. While a prototype is used to test and evaluate the proposed solution, a POC is used to demonstrate its feasibility and potential. Together, they provide valuable insights that can help the company to refine its product and increase its chances of success.

Successful Stories of Prototypes and Not So Much

We believe it is important to learn both from successful and not successful prototype launches alike. In fact, a shut down prototype is surely better than a final product that didn’t succeed, thus prototyping is firstly an exploratory investment activity to find the best possible option of an idea-to-market and if it is overall relevant in the first place.

There are many success stories and failure examples of prototypes in the world of technology and product development. Likely one of the most known success stories is the development of the Apple iPhone. The original iPhone was a revolutionary device that combined a mobile phone, music player, and internet communicator into a single, easy-to-use device. Apple's development team created multiple prototypes of the iPhone during the design and testing process and used feedback from users to make iterative improvements to the design (this is still the case with all Apple products by the way, and it is a successfully passed tradition for all successful technology companies). The final product was a huge success, and the iPhone has become one of the most popular and influential consumer electronics devices in history.

On the other hand, there are also many examples of failed prototypes in the tech industry. One notable example is Google Glass, a wearable computer with an optical head-mounted display. Google Glass was a highly anticipated product. Think about it, it seems like the ultimate device to have for a content creator and an everyday tech-savvy individual, right? However, it failed to gain traction with consumers due to privacy concerns, technical limitations, and a high price tag. Despite the initial excitement and hype surrounding the product, Google Glass was ultimately discontinued in January 2015. Do you think the Facebook / Ray-ban smart glasses (Ray-Ban Stories) will be any different?

In the context of failed prototypes, some companies may get “lucky” and not have to take the prototype to the customer testing stage before having to tank the whole project. Sure, it would have been nicer to recognize the issues and settle the project in POC stage, but it is also much better to have a failed prototype, that didn’t end up in public testing, eventually failing or even worse, succeeding and then failing in the mass manufactured form.

Tesla's Solar Roof is a good example of this one: In 2016, Tesla unveiled a prototype for a solar roof that could generate electricity while also serving as the primary roofing material for a building. However, the company struggled with technical issues related to the durability and efficiency of the solar tiles, leading to delays and a slow roll-out of the product. Musk famously admitted the issues with the Solar Roof project, while still trying to make it work – he ended up putting the project in the trunk.

Project Loon is another example of a great idea, that failed to turn into MVP due to technical issues. This was a prototype for a network of high-altitude balloons that would provide internet access to remote areas was developed by Google X (now known as X, a Moonshot Factory). One of the technical challenges faced by the project was the development of sensors and other technologies that could accurately measure and control the position and altitude of the balloons.

As R&D service provider, coming to the market with the smallest passive sensors in the world, RVmagnetics aims to learn from examples of measurement/sensor prototypes as well. One of these good examples is the development of the Kinect sensor for the Xbox 360 video game console. The Kinect was a revolutionary device that used depth-sensing cameras and microphones to enable users to control and interact with the Xbox 360 using gestures and spoken commands. The development team at Microsoft created multiple prototypes of the Kinect during the design and testing process, and used feedback from users to make iterative improvements to the design. The final product was a huge success, and the Kinect has been used in a variety of applications, including video gaming, home automation, and robotics.

Another successful example of a measurement/sensor prototype is the development of the LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor for self-driving cars . LIDAR sensors use lasers to measure distances and create detailed 3D maps of the surrounding environment. This allows self-driving cars to accurately perceive and navigate their surroundings. The development of LIDAR sensors involved the creation of multiple prototypes, which were used to test and evaluate the feasibility, accuracy, and reliability of the technology. The final product has been widely adopted by self-driving car manufacturers and has been instrumental in advancing the development of autonomous vehicles.

These examples illustrate the importance of prototyping in the development of measurement and sensor technology. Prototyping allows companies to test and evaluate their ideas, gather feedback from users, and make necessary modifications to the design before launching the final product. In the case of the Kinect and LIDAR sensors, prototyping played a crucial role in the development of these successful technologies.

So then what are the common reasons why a prototype ends up failing? To name a few, especially relevant for prototypes with multiple stakeholders involved:

  • Poor definition of objectives: If the objectives of the project are not clearly defined and understood by all stakeholders, it can lead to misunderstandings and misalignment throughout the project.
  • Misalignment of expectations: It is important to align expectations with all stakeholders, including understanding the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the project. TRL is a common standard used to assess the maturity of a technology. For example, TRL 6 indicates that the technology has been demonstrated in a relevant environment, while TRL 7 indicates that a system prototype has been demonstrated in an operational environment. Here we should clarify that a Prototype in TRL 7 is a major technological achievement, however, further TRL 8 and 9 are additional crucial stages of getting the Prototype into a technology that is ready for deployment.
  • Lack of resources: Also a result of a false expectation setting, after certain POC, consultation and other evaluation efforts – prototyping projects will often require significant, even more resources, including personnel, funding, and equipment. If these resources are not available or are insufficient, it can lead to delays and setbacks – eventually a cancelled product, for the wrong reasons.
  • Technical challenges: Prototyping projects often involve the development of new technologies or processes, which is as unpredictable as can be. If the project encounters technical issues that cannot be easily overcome, it can lead to de-funding, delays, and eventually unreleased products & technologies.
  • Poor communication and collaboration: Effective communication and collaboration between team members and stakeholders are essential for the success of any project. If there are breakdowns in communication or a lack of collaboration, it can lead to misunderstandings and delays

How Can a Prototype Lead to a Successful Product?

One of EU Tech Chamber advocates – RVmagnetics currently has key operations in the phase of developing new, and unique measurement systems based on their own, smallest passive sensor – MicroWire. Usually, they attend to use cases that other sensors were not able to address due to size, accuracy, wires and connections and other limitations (Microwires are thin and elastic like human hair anc need no contact to provide accurate real time measurements).

This, for them means custom-developing measurement solutions that hasn’t been done before, thus acting as an outsourced Research & Development company for their partners: they develop Proofs of Concept, and Prototypes of these new smartened products with new added measurement features, to ensure competitive growth. Since 2015 they have generated experience in the field which lead us to conclude some key factors to ensure a prototype will lead to a successful, final product, let’s go through them:

  • Clearly define the goals and objectives of the prototype: Before beginning the prototyping process, it is important to define the goals and objectives of the prototype clearly. This will help to ensure that the prototype is focused on addressing the key challenges and needs of the project, and will provide a framework for evaluating the success of the prototype.
    • Clarify the value of the potential outcome that the product is aiming for
  • Involve potential users in the prototyping process: User feedback is critical to the success of a prototype. By involving potential users in the prototyping process, companies can gather valuable insights into how the proposed product or technology will be used and what features and functionality are most important to users. This can help to identify potential problems and opportunities, and to make necessary modifications to the design of the prototype.
  • Test the prototype in a realistic environment: Prototyping should be conducted in a realistic environment that closely simulates the intended use of the product. This will allow the company to assess the feasibility, functionality, and effectiveness of the prototype under real-world conditions.
    • Adding static and dynamic testing principles will help identify issues in operation, prevent them or react accordingly when they come up, thus the relevant environment is vital in the test plan/roadmap put together during planning activities.
  • Use interactive design techniques: Prototyping is an iterative process, and it is important to incorporate feedback and make necessary modifications to the prototype as it is being developed. By using interactive design techniques, companies can quickly identify and address most problems or challenges that arise, and can improve the design of the prototype over time (or, worst case scenario, they will stop wasting potential resources, and will conclude learnings from the work that has already been done).
  • Conduct thorough testing and evaluation: Before launching the final product, it is important to conduct thorough testing and evaluation of the prototype. This can be in the form of medium to long-term MVP use, adjustments in mass-manufacturing techniques, etc. The stage will help to identify any remaining issues or weaknesses and will ensure that the prototype is ready for commercial use.
  • Collect, consolidate and archive the learnings: no matter the results, the Prototype-creation process affects the learnings that will come in handy in future operations – both to use the gathered knowledge and experience in the relevant projects and to know better before stepping into an irrelevant one. If all the stakeholders archive their knowledge and experience properly, the accumulative work will be effective even if the responsible personnel within the companies are changing.

By following these steps, companies can increase the chances of success for their prototypes and ultimately for their new products. Prototyping is an essential part of the product development process and can help companies to validate their ideas, gather valuable feedback from users, and improve the chances of success for their products.


Author
Tigran Hovhannisyan
With a B2B sales & marketing background in INGO & Foreign Investments in government sectors, Tigran is now responsible for extensive industry research in RVmagnetics focused on marketing the company both in R&D and Business spaces. Tigran is up to date with trends in deep tech, sensors, and innovative startups in need of niche growth. He shares the knowledge with RVmagnetics communities via blogs, publications, and news releases, while also using his experience to Manage RVmagnetics' Key Partners' accounts.