Search for new fields of application of technologies as a method for developing creativity using the notion of “resources of engineering evolution”.

Yu.Danilovsky QM&E, Gen 3 Korea (South Korea) Этот адрес электронной почты защищен от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра. , S.Ikovenko (MITUSA) Этот адрес электронной почты защищен от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра. , Rajesh Menon ( GILBARCO USA - India) Rajesh Menon < Этот адрес электронной почты защищен от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра. >

Abstract

There is some modern methodologies in TRIZ for search new area of applications for existing products [5]. This approach we can use for develop the intensity of creative thinking also, if we create special set of exercises in resources analysis area.

Key words: RESOURCE ANALYSIS, SUBSTANCE, ENERGY, SPACE,TIME, FUNCTION, NEEDS

Introduction

Any university development has difficulties in monetization. The higher number of variants are found, the higher the chances for the developers to get money from industry or from small business are. Also any company, relating to small and medium-sized business, producing a certain kind of marketable goods or offering some services, dreams about the obtainment of new markets. Both tasks – monetization of scientific developments and search for new markets – could be solved using certain special methodologies of analysis from the field of modern TRIZ and modern tools implying the use of engineering evolution resources.

Search for new markets is also vital for companies relating to small and medium-sized business, as well as for the better mastering of TRIZ tools, which could be done in the form of the game.

The analytical TRIZ procedures, which are applied for these purposes, are based on resource and functional approach, which is based on four fundamental scientific categories: SUBSTANCE, ENERGY, SPACE and TIME. As an applied subject, TRIZ also works with resources, which could be related to the general philosophical category of INFORMATION. The notion of “technical function” could also be related to information resources (“the umbrella changes the direction of the water drops”, “cigarette delivers nicotine to the blood of the smoker”, “car lights increase the intensity of illuminating the surface of the road in front of the car during the night time”…) and many supersystem factors like politics, finance and (if we understand it wider) the needs of the people.

“Languages” used for describing engineering objects

In our practice of search for new areas of applying technologies, which could be called a specific variety of resource analysis, we use, as a rule, four “languages” of describing our objects: language of parameters, language of functions, language of disadvantages and language of demands (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. Four languages of describing engineering objects and tools of support

All these “languages” have a common foundation – “methodologies of creating inventions at a professional level” (TRIZ). All languages of description are logically associated with the notion of “resources”. Both 40 techniques and TESE describe possible operations with resources.

Fig. 2. Four languages of describing engineering objects and the notion of resources.

For each of the “languages” we develop special electronic reference books – databases, embracing examples of our past projects and from prior art. These reference books help us both in project performance and in teaching students via coaching sessions. Entrance to each electronic database takes place at the level of important parameters in engineering, like length (METER), weight (KG), density (kg/m3), etc. Totally we selected 65 such examples by the present moment. A physical contradiction could be created for each of such parameters, which is intended for describing a conflicting (problem) situation in engineering. Each cell of this Database contains examples of resolving PC with regard to the selected parameter.

For example, of weight and PC with regard to the parameter “weight”. The weight should be great (because of...) and should be small (because of...)

Fig. 3. Examples of solving typical problems, associated with the parameter “weight”.

Fig. 2 shows a fragment of a collection of examples from fairly different fields of engineering, where the problem of weight as a parameter, which is significant for the system, is encountered. Detailed description of this electronic database was offered at the TRIZ conference in Seoul in 2014 (for the Russian language version see [1]).

A similar electronic database was created for a FUNCTION ORIENTED SEARCH (FOS) for prototypes in solving problems in TRIZ. Detailed description of this electronic database was offered at the TRIZ conference in Kiev in 2013 (for a full version of the report see [2]). In this database the entrance is the list of verbs recommended for describing the Generalized Function: Function, with which a particular object and an action associated with it are reworded in the form of all-purpose terms. For example, particular function “remove water” could be reformulated into “move fluid”. Generalized functions are used in conducting Function-Oriented Search (FOS).

FOS is a tool for solving problems, which is based on identifying and use of technologies, which exist in the world implying the application of functional criteria of search and selection of technologies. For example, functions “cut grass” and “shave” are characterized by the identical generalized function “to remove substance”, however, in case with the lawn-mower this is grass, while in case with the razor this is hair (Fig. 3). This circumstance (equality of generalized functions) enables us to shift technical solutions from the field of shaving technologies to the field of agriculture (picture on the left) and vice versa (picture on the right). Or from the area of cosmetics to the field of devices for smoking (picture on the left) and vice versa (picture on the right). In the second case the generalized function is “add substance”.

Fig. 4. Main search (FOS): similar problems associated with similar generalized functions, have identical solutions.

Similar electronic database has been created for the category “Disadvantage”, which continues the logics of FOS, but instead of a useful function considers HARMFUL functions and any popular disadvantages of systems in general, for example, “the presence of “expendable materials” or “high energy consumption in switching over”.

Fig. 5. General search using the approach of DOS (Disadvantage Oriented Search): similar problems, associated with similar generalized DISADVANTAGES, have identical solutions.

Detailed description of this electronic database was offered at the TRIZ conference in Prague in 2014 (for a generally accessible version see [3]). It would be much simpler to clarify the logics of applying this tool on a simple particular example from the history of technology.

Identical disadvantage "excessive time for fulfilling the main step” or “rather significant time for preparation”, both in case with preparation of tea in case with recharging of powder weapon of early generation, triggered similar solutions, mainly, the invention of the “cartridge”.

Fig. 6. Fragment of electronic Database on typical methods for eliminating disadvantages

One more important language of description is the language of needs. This is a relatively young tool, which was created at “Samsung Electronics” in 2006 and which helped to support our work with the department of marketing.

Example 1: search for new concepts for a conditioner

We know from psychology about the classification of the human needs, so called “Maslow Pyramid”. Each engineering system satisfies a certain need of the human. ManysystemscansatisfyTWOneedssimultaneously. For example, an umbrella satisfies the need of the humans to be dry (biological need), however, at the same time it satisfies the need, associated with movement (need to move) – “to be dry during the motion in rainy weather”. Thus, it is easy to see in the diagram (Fig. 7), where the umbrella is positioned (which line and which column). After that we shall be able to analyze all cells in horizontal direction (“the rule of the line”) and find new variants for the engineering system (ES) umbrella. There are several more rules in this diagram, but we are now considering only the general “operation principle” of the diagram.

Let us consider “the rule of the line” as applied to air-conditioners (Fig. 7). It was not difficult to fill in some of the cells, like the ones, where we see an inexpensive fan or a beautiful hand fan. This diagram helped to predict the advent of “smart air-conditioners”. Imagine such a situation: the conditioner can ITSELF telephone the repair company and advise that it is necessary to add cooling agent (Freon) to the device, etc.

Fig. 7. Diagram of needs according to Maslow and an example of using it for the purpose of seeking new areas, where air-conditioners could be applied

Examples of search for new applications of the technology

In the last example we actually analyzed the simplest tool for supporting the search of new applications for the technology, which should be only modified a little bit via integrating it with other existing technologies in order to allow for these applications. Let us now consider the search for new fields of application for a technology, which already exists. This is a specific format of RESOURCE ANALYSIS, which is equipped with their tools of support. One out of numerous examples for fulfilling the projects are quoted below.

Example 2: Software for virtual reality test rig

One IT company developed software for 3D movie houses and searched for options of using its product in other fields. Primary analysis and the use of the diagram of needs enabled to find several more zones of stable application of this software product.

Fig. 8. Search for the zones of application of developed software in other spheres of application. See complete version of the example.

There from we obtained several possible new applications:

· Catastrophe films, which imitate the balloon flights with blowing cold air around the balloon and an illusion of collisions.

· Technologies of virtual education in the field of botany, implying the process of adding odors and smaller details from the life of butterflies.

· Simulators of shooting intended for expensive arms, implying the effects of motion of the arms during the shot (for the army) and other concepts.

Training and development of these habits with students.

In practice of training the authors, a special set of exercises was created. These exercises were intended for creativity training using such notions as “resources”, “parameters”, “functions”, “disadvantages” and “needs”.

Example: It is necessary to find new fields of application for a certain system or a process. For example, it is necessary (using all obtained knowledge) to find new application fields for a plastic bag.

The variant for doing such an exercise is quoted below in two formats: in the format of a resource diagram and in the format of a diagram of needs 8Х8.

Fig. 9,10. Search for application zones for the technical object “plastic bag” in two formats - "diagram of resources" and “diagram of needs”. See complete version of the example.

Conclusion

· Wedescribedinanutshellfourlanguagesofresourcesforevolutionofengineeringandsuchtools, whichsupportthisevolutioninpractice. With the aid of these languages (notions) and tools the analysis of marketable goods and technologies is carried out with the purpose of finding new application areas.

· Two examples of performing the projects exactly of this type were demonstrated.

· In order to learn how to perform such projects, many exercises were developed implying the use of all four languages of describing Engineering Systems. These training sessions imply a lot of game, in which the partner was GOOGLE, whom the student can ask questions with specified keywords, which the player forms according to the framework of used diagrams characterizing the object of analysis, which is a great advantage of these games.

Reference

1. Yu. Danilovsky, S. Ikovenko. Electronic reference book of physical disadvantages. http://www.triz-solver.com/index.php/teoriya-nedostatkov/223-fp-kak-elektronnyj-spravochnik-chernovik

2. Yu. Danilovsky. Paper read at the TRIZ Developers’ Summit-2013. http://www.triz-solver.com/index.php/izmerenie-kreativnosti/204-doklad-na-sammite-razrabotchikov-triz-2013

3. Yu. Danilovsky, S. Ikovenko. Electronic reference book of typical disadvantages as an integrated educational tool. http://www.triz-solver.com/index.php/konferentsii/228-triz-praga-2014

4. Y.Danilovsky, S. Ikovenko, Min Gyu Lee, KJ Jung, Sung Kim, Sahong Kim. Diagnostics and Training of the Inventive Thinking Level based on the Reference Book on Disadvantages (Disadvantage-Oriented Search). http://www.triz-solver.com/index.php/izmerenie-kreativnosti/187-dos

5. Y.Danilovsky, S. Ikovenko, Methods of search for new areas of application of technologies. Moscow's TRIZ conference 2015 http://www.triz-solver.com/index.php/konferentsii/231-moscow-triz-2014

6. some pictures of Y.Danilovsky "Resources training for development of creativity" in FB https://www.facebook.com/yury.danilovsky.9/media_set?set=a.10205028432213828.1073741854.1333176688&type=3&uploaded=117 and deposited draft for this article in personal web site

Подробности: Категория: Конференции; Опубликовано: 22 Май 2015