試運転

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 試運転（しうんてん） combines 試, testing, with 運転, operation.
• Basic usage: It means operating a machine or device to check its condition.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• What can be operated
  • The first example concerns a repaired 機械. Here 運転 covers operating machinery as well as driving a car.
• Compared with a test ride
  • 試乗 focuses on trying a ride in a vehicle. 試運転 focuses on checking operation, which explains its connection with recording results in the second example.