This is why I prefer to commit to stages of development, rather than a shipping feature, for things that require research. If possible, I will absolutely try to

This is why I prefer to commit to stages of development, rather than a shipping feature, for things that require research. If possible, I will absolutely try to avoid giving a target date for a feature until I've already got a prototype working. I will give a target date for the prototype, though... even though that number is far more often just an arbitrary date than not. I understand that my approach frustrates managers who demand timelines. But sometimes reality interferes with those timelines, and I'm the one steeped in reality.