Innovation Tool: TRIZ (An Introduction)

1. Innovation Tool: TRIZ (An Introduction) Jonathan Weaver UDM ME Department Development support by David Roggenkamp and Arun Aakaluashok

2. References • There are numerous books on the subject and web materials available, some of the best are at http://www.aitriz.org/ai/index.php, some specifics: • http://www.triz-journal.com/archives/2006/01/07.pdf • Kraev’s Corner featured a twelve lesson sequence in the Triz Journal which you might enjoy; the lessons are available at http://www.triz-journal.com/archives/2006/ • A full listing of the 40 principles with examples can be found at http://www.triz-journal.com/archives/1997/07/b/index.html • The contradiction matrix may be found at http://www.triz40.com/aff_Matrix.htm • And Suddenly the Inventor Appeared, by GenrichAltshuller • Triz materials from Patsy Brackin, Rose Hulman. • Airbag example from: http://www.triz-journal.com/archives/1997/07/a/index.html

3. How Many Ways Do You Know to Move a Liquid?

4. Acoustic Cavitation • Acoustic Vibrations • Archimedes’ Principle • Bernoulli’s Theorem • Boiling • Brush Constructions • Capillary Condensation • Capillary Evaporation • Capillary Pressure • Coanda Effect • Condensation • Coulomb’s Law • Deformation • Electrocapillary Effect • Electroosmosis • Electrophoresis • Electrostatic Induction • Ellipse • Evaporation • Ferromagnetism • Forced Oscillations • Funnel Effect • Gravity • Inertia • Ionic Exchange • Jet Flow • Lorentz Force • Magnetostriction • Mechanocaloric Effect • Osmosis • Pascal Law • Resonance • Shock Wave • Spiral • Super Thermal Conductivity • Superfluidity • Surface Tension • Thermal Expansion • Thermocapillary Effect • Thermomechanical Effect • Ultrasonic Capillary Effect • Ultrasonic Vibrations • Use of foam • Wetting Knowledge from all fields

5. "The creative person pays close attention to what appears discordant and contradictory ... and is challenged by such irregularities." Frank Barron (1942-2002), was an internationally known psychologist and UC Berkeley professor who studied highly creative thinkers in architecture, science, mathematics and literature.  He was  Guggenheim Fellow and a Fellow for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences.  Barron received the American Psychological Association's Richardson Creativity Award and the Rudolf Arnheim Award for Outstanding Contribution to Psychology and the Arts.

6. Processing Sweet Peppers • It used to be a labor-intensive process to de-seed peppers. • Now, to remove seeds from peppers, the peppers may be placed in a pressure chamber. The pressure can be slowly increased so that the pressure diffuses through the pepper skin to the interior of the pepper. If the pressure is then suddenly reduced, the stem and seeds explode out of the pepper! (discovered c. 1945) • What does this have to do with invention and innovation?

7. Beyond Peppers • Other applications of pressure increase/drop: • Removing shells from sunflower seeds (1950) • Removing shells from cedar nuts (1950) • Cleaning filters • Unpacking parts wrapped in protective paper • Producing sugar powder from sugar crystal • Splitting artificial diamonds along micro-cracks (1972) • More generally – store up energy and release it • More generally still – store a resource for later use

8. Genrich Altshullar, Father of TRIZ • Born 15-Oct-1926, • Age 14, patented underwater breathing apparatus that generated oxygen from hydrogen peroxide. • Age 20, as Lieutenant in Caspian Sea Navy, patented method for escaping immobilized submarine without diving gear and was offered position as patent examiner. • Age 22, wrote to Stalin to inform him that the Soviet Union’s approach to technology was chaotic and ignorant and that he had devised a systematic approach by which any technical problem could be solved. • Age 23, Invited to a meeting and taken into custody. • Age 24, Sentenced to 25 years in prison. • Age 29, Released early from prison following Stalin’s death and learns his grief stricken mother has committed suicide. • Age 30, Publishes Psychology of Inventive Creativity. • Age 42, Organizes first TRIZ seminar. • Age 43, Publishes Algorithm of Inventing (40 Inventive Principles). • Age 50s, Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. • Age 58, Publishes And Suddenly the Inventor Appeared. • Age 63, Named president of newly established Russian TRIZ Association. • Age 72, Dies. (1999)

9. TRIZTeoriyaResheniyaIzobreatatelskikhZadatch • Altshuller recognized that the same fundamental problem (contradiction) had been addressed by a number of inventions in different areas of technology • Healso observed that the same fundamental solutions were used over and over again, often separated by many years • He reasoned that if the latter innovator had had knowledge of the earlier solution, their task would have been straightforward • He sought to extract, compile, and organize such information

10. Psychological Inertia Vector A better solution might lie over here Your training and biases may bring you down this path

11. Inventive Patents Patents (World Wide) • KEY FINDINGS • Definition of inventive • problems • Levels of invention • Patterns of evolution • Patterns of invention Altshuller’s Research Results 40,000 200,000

12. Five Levels of Invention • LEVEL 1:Apparent (no invention) • Established solutions • Well-known and readily accessible • Example: Adjustable pedals in a car (already was commonplace in airplanes) • LEVEL 2: Minor Improvement • Small improvement of an existing system, usually with some compromise • Example: Bifocals

13. Five Levels of Invention (Cont.) • LEVEL 3: Invention Inside Paradigm • Significant improvement of an existing system • Example: Automatic transmission • LEVEL 4: Invention Outside Paradigm • Involves changing the principle of performing the primary function of an existing system • Example: jet engine applied to aircraft • LEVEL 5: Discovery • Pioneer invention of an essentially new system • Example: first airplane

14. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Level_of_Invention

15. Levels of Innovation (Cont.)

16. Two Types of Contradiction • Physical Contradiction • A conflict between two mutually exclusive physical requirements to the same parameter of an element of the system • Element should be hot and cold • Element should be hard and soft • Technical Contradiction (commonly referred to as a trade-off) • A conflict between characteristics within a system when improving one parameter of the system causes the deterioration of other parameter • Increasing the power of the motor (a desired effect) may cause the weight of the motor to increase (a negative effect).

17. Dealing with Physical Contradictions • Four principles for overcoming physical contradiction: • Separation of contradictory properties in time or on condition • Separation of contradictory properties in space • System transformations(or separation between the parts and the whole) • Phase transformation, or physical-chemical transformation of substances

18. Examples of Physical Contradictions • Separation of contradictory properties in time • For overcoming nail’s rotation into the wall, we can propose to make the nail with a noncircular section shape. But the process for production of these nails should be changed for making the new shape and it is expensive! • Separation of contradictory properties in space • Bifocals by Ben Franklin • System transformations • For measuring contact force between a door’s seal and housing of the refrigerator, we can use some special electronic sensors between them. But what kind of sensors do we need  and how to get them? Is there a simpler way to solve the problem?

19. Automotive Examples of Physical Contradictions • Highways should be wide for easy traffic flow but narrow for low impact on communities. • Braking should be instantaneous to avoid road hazards but braking should be gradual for control. • Upholstery should be luxurious but be easy to maintain. • The frame should be heavy (for structural safety) but the frame should be light (for cost and ease of assembly.) • Manufacturing should be done in small lots for flexibility but manufacturing should be done in large lots for low cost.

20. Airbag Examples of Physical Contradictions • The deployment threshold should be high and low • The air bag should be aggressive and de-powered • The air bag should protect everyone and harm no one • The gas should be generated quickly and slowly • The sensor should be complex and simple • The air bag should exist and should not exist

21. Automotive Examples of Technical Contradictions • The vehicle has higher horsepower, but uses more fuel • The vehicle has high acceleration but uses more fuel • The ride feels smoother, but the handling is difficult on high speed curves • A pick-up truck has high load capacity (stiff rear suspension) but the ride is rough. • Putting controls on stalks increases driver convenience, but makes assembly of the steering column more complex. • Electric vehicles can go long distances between recharging, but the battery weight gets too high to move at all!

22. Airbag Examples of Technical Contradictions • High power ("aggressive") deployment saves lives of average-sized drivers, but increases injuries to unbelted or small passengers • Adding more sensors to customize the deployment to the circumstances, and thereby save lives of small and unbelted people, increases the complexity of the system

23. Handling Technical Contradiction • Altshuller identified a set of engineering parameters such that a contradiction can be stated in the form improving one parameter causes deterioration of the other parameter • A set of inventive principles are developed • A tool is provided which helps direct the inventor to a appropriate principles for a given contradiction • Based on his patent research, Altshuller identified the 39 engineering parameters that may be involved in a contradiction

24. Altshuller’s 39 Engineering Parameters • Weight of moving object • Weight of non-moving object • Length of moving object • Length of non-moving object • Area of moving object • Area of non-moving object • Volume of moving object • Volume of non-moving object • Speed • Force • Tension, pressure. • Shape • Stability of object • Strength • Durability of moving object • Durability of non-moving object • Temperature • Brightness • Energy spent by moving object • Energy spent by non-moving object

25. Altshuller’s 39 Engineering Parameters (Cont.) • Power • Waste of energy • Waste of substance • Loss of information • Waste of time • Amount of substance • Reliability • Accuracy of measurement • Accuracy of manufacturing • Harmful factors acting on object • Harmful side effects • Manufacturability • Convenience of use • Repairability • Adaptability • Complexity of device • Complexity of control • Level of automation • Productivity

26. Inventive Principles Based on his patent research, Altshuller identified a total of 40 inventive principles that can be applied to resolve contradictions amongst the engineering parameters.

27. 40 Inventive Principles • Segmentation • Extraction • Local Quality • Asymmetry • Combining • Universality • Nesting • Counterweight • Prior counter-action • Prior action • Cushion in advance • Equipotentiality • Inversion • Spheroidality • Dynamicity • Partial or overdone action • Moving to a new dimension • Mechanical vibration • Periodic action • Continuity of useful action

28. 40 Inventive Principles (Cont.) • Rushing through • Convert harm into benefit • Feedback • Mediator • Self-service • Copying • An inexpensive short-lived object instead of an expensive durable one • Replacement of a mechanical system • Use a pneumatic or hydraulic construction • Flexible film or thin membranes • Use of porous material • Changing the color • Homogeneity • Discarding and Recovering • Transformation of physical and chemical states of an object • Phase transition • Thermal expansion • Use strong oxidizers • Inert environment • Composite materials

29. Principle 1: Segmentation • Divide an object into independent parts • Replace mainframe computer by personal computers • Replace a large truck by a truck and trailer • Make an object easy to disassemble • Modular furniture • Quick disconnect joints in plumbing • Increase the degree of fragmentation or segmentation • Replace solid shades with Venetian blinds • Use powdered welding metal instead of foil or rod to get better penetration of the joint

30. Example of Segmentation If we have to paint the wooden stairs that lead us to the second floor, then, we should paint every other step and then once those steps are dried then we will paint the rest of the steps. This allows us to use the stairs without having to wait for all of them to dry with just some minor inconveniences.

31. Principle 2: Taking Out • Separate an interfering part or property from an object, or single out the only necessary part (or property) of an object. • Locate a noisy compressor outside the building where compressed air is used • Use fiber optics or a light pipe to separate the hot light source from the location where light is needed • Use the sound of a barking dog, without the dog, as a burglar alarm

32. Principle 3: Local Quality • Change an object's structure from uniform to non-uniform, change an external environment (or external influence) from uniform to non-uniform • Use a temperature, density, or pressure gradient instead of constant temperature, density or pressure • Make each part of an object function in conditions most suitable for its operation • Lunch box with hot and cold compartments • Make each part of an object fulfill a different and useful function. • Pencil with eraser

33. A complete list of the principles with examples can be found where these three samples were obtained: http://www.triz-journal.com/archives/1997/07/b/index.html

34. Principle 1: Segmentation International Space Station has highly modularized architecture Principle 2: Extraction Isolate the outhouse

35. Principle 3: Local Quality A Swiss Army Knife where each part fulfills a different and useful function Source: walmart.com Principle 4: Asymmetry NASCAR circle track suspension is asymmetric to favor left turns

36. Principle 3: Local Quality A Swiss Army Knife where each part fulfills a different and useful function Source: walmart.com Principle 4: Asymmetry NASCAR circle track suspension is asymmetric to favor left turns

37. Principle 5: Combining A washer/dryer combo Source: http://www.haier.com/index.htm Principle 6: Universality An iPhone performs many functions (Yes it’s an example of Combining too.)

38. Principle 7: Nesting Construction cones nest for easy storage Principle 8: Counterweight Dirigibles are naturally weighted to prevent roll

39. Principle 9: Prior Counter-action TBD Principle 10: Prior Action Lunchables conveniently pre-gather everything needed

40. Principle 13: The Other Way Around Rotate the wheel rather than the tire iron Principle 18: Mechanical Vibration Drive nails with 35 strikes per second Source: gizmo.com Principle 34: Discarding and Recovering External fuel tank and twin rockets recovered after launch Source: howstuffworks.com

41. 39 Parameters Engineering Parameters Engineering Parameters 39 Parameters Inventive Principles useful to solve the contradiction Contradiction Table

42. Worsening feature Excerpt of the Contradiction Table from http://www.triz40.com/aff_Matrix.htm

43. The Direct Path Can Be Elusive Your Problem Your Solution Generic Problem Generic Solution

44. Fertilizer Example • The Problem: Optimal use of fertilizer requires that it be applied when the soil reaches a specific temperature. • Because soil temperatures change continually, the challenge for tomato growers was being able to distribute fertilizer over a vast amount of acreage at the precise moment the soil reaches optimal temperature.

45. Fertilizer Example (Cont.) • In TRIZ terms, this problem presents as one of production rate vstemperature. • If we look at the contradiction matrix, we find the intersection of production rate and temperature and infer four suggested principles to apply: • #10: Preliminary Action (perform before needed) • #21: Skipping • #28: Mechanics Substitution • #35: Parameter Changes (such as state changes)

46. Fertilizer Example (Cont.) • These four principles would be investigated to see if they lead to any new ideas • In this case, principle 10 leads to an excellent solution: • If the fertilizer is packaged in capsules containing a liquefied gas, the capsules can be applied to the soil ahead of time. When the soil reaches optimum temperature, the gas expands, breaks the capsule, and releases the fertilizer.

47. Airbag Example • It would take a while to go through the airbag example in detail • See “Contradictions: Air Bag Applications” at http://www.triz-journal.com/archives/1997/07/a/index.html

48. Piping of Steel Shot Example • Pipe for transporting steel shot • Problem: Pipe wears out at spots from steel shot movement. • Conflict: Shot must move, but movement causes wear. • TRIZ Conflict • Improving objective: Productivity (#39) • Worsening objective: Loss of substance (#23)

49. Piping of Steel Shot Example (Cont.) • Suggested principles: • #10: Preliminary action, #23: Feedback, #35: Parameter changes, and #28: Mechanical interaction substitution -- Use electrical, magnetic fields to interact with object. Source: slides from Patsy Brackin, Rose-Hulman

50. Piping of Steel Shot Example (Cont.) • Solution • Place a magnet at high wear spots (corners) to adhere shot to pipe to create a coating. Source: slides from Patsy Brackin, Rose-Hulman