The TRIZ Method

1. The TRIZ Method David E. Goldberg University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign deg@uiuc.edu

2. Texts Used • Kaplan, S. (1996). An introduction to TRIZ: The Russian theory of inventive problem solving. Southfield, MI: Ideation International Inc. • Altshuler, G. (1994). And suddenly the inventor appeared: TRIZ, the theory of inventive problem solving (L. Shulyak & S. Rodman, trans). Worcester, MA: Technical Innovation Center. • Altshuler, G. (2000). The innnovation algorithm: TRIZ, systematic innovation and technical creativity (L. Shulyak & S. Rodman, trans). Worcester, MA: Technical Innovation Center.

3. More Texts • Altshuler, G. S. (1984). Creativity as an exact science: The theory of the solution of inventive problems (A. Williams, trans.). New York: Gordon and Breach. • Savransky, S. D. (2000). Engineering of creativity: Introduction to TRIZ methodology of inventive problem solving. Boca Raton: FL: CRC Press.

4. G. S. Altshuller • Genrich Saulovich Altshuller (1926-1998). • 1946 was working in Soviet Navy patent office. • 1948 wrote a letter to Comrade Stalin wishing to help the motherland do better invention. • 1950 arrested for “investor’s sabotage” sent to the Gulag. • 1956 wrote his first paper.

5. TRIZ • Teoriya Resheniya Izobreatatelskikh Zadatch • Theory of inventive problem solving. • Started with Altshuller’s interest in invention and work in Soviet Navy patent office.

6. What is TRIZ? • TRIZ is an evolving, open-ended system for enhancing human inventiveness through • Systematic identification of problems and ideal solutions • Overcoming various blocks through heuristics and approaches that have worked in other disciplines

7. Organization of Presentation • Levels of inventive solutions • Regularities in the evolution of technological systems • Technical contradictions, the matrix • SU-Field theory

8. Levels of Inventive Solution • Level 1: Standard, routine methods within specialty. • Level 2: Improvement, new features. • Level 3: Invention inside paradigm, essential improvement of existing system (automatic transmission). • Level 4: Invention outside paradigm, new system (use of little known phenomena). • Level 5: Discovery, essentially new system, new science? (lasers, aircraft, computers).

9. Regularities in Evolution of Technological Systems 8 Laws of Development of Engineered Systems • Law of completeness of parts of a system • Law of energy conductivity of a system • Law of harmonization of rhythms • Law of increasing ideality • Law of uneven development of parts • Law of transition to a supersystem • Law ot transition from macro to mirco level • Law of increasing substance-field involvement

10. Completeness • Four canonical parts • Engine • Working organ • Transmission • Control organ • Systems evolve toward more complete synthesis of these parts

11. Energy Conductivity • Systems evolve toward increasing efficiency in the transfer of energy • From engine to working organ. • Transfer through a substance or a field • Substance: material items • Field: magnetic field • Substance-field: stream of charged particles • Query: What about information flow?

12. Harmonization • System evolves toward harmony of its rhythms and natural frequencies of its parts. • Coal boring method example. 2-steps, 7-year delay avoided.

13. Ideality • IFR = ideal final result • Function exists but machine does not. • Ideality is the useful effects divided by the harmful.

14. Uneven Development of Parts • Development proceeds monotonically • Parts evolve in fits and starts • See this in GAs • Cargo ship example: capacity and engine size exceed braking capacity.

15. Last 3 Laws • Transition to Supersystem • Reach limits of development • System becomes subsystem of larger system • Transition from Macro to Micro • Stuff gets smaller • Increasing substance-field involvement • Discuss in a moment

16. Other Altshuller Pearls • Other writings resulted in other laws • Increasing dynamism: things become moveable (landing gear, wings) • Psychological inertia: people resist change • Note about laws: empirical laws like Darwin or prescriptive/normative laws. Thou shalt do X.

17. Principle of Solution by Abstraction • Steps: • Specific inventive problem • Identify abstract problem category • Determine associated abstract solution category • Specialize abstract solutions to specific problem • Chart

18. Technical Contradictions & the Matrix • Parameter A improves, but parameter B deteriorates, strength v. weight. • Usually involves tradeoff or compromise • TRIZ seeks to surmount contradiction. • In patent study, Altshuler identified 39 engineering parameters and 40 operators • 39 x 39 matrix of parameter contradictions

19. Weight of moving object Weight of nonmoving object Length of moving object Length of nonmoving object Area of moving object Area of nonmoving object Volume of moving object Volume of nonmoving object Speed Force Tension, pressure Shape Stability of object Strength Durability of moving object Durability of nonmoving object Temperature Brightness .Energy spent by moving object Energy spent by nonmoving object Altshuller’s Parameters

20. 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 More Parameters

21. 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 40 Inventive Principles

22. Move to new dimension Mechanical vibration Periodic action Continue useful action Rushing through Convert harm to benefit Feedback Mediator Self-service Copying Substitute throwaway Replace mechanical system Use pneumatic-hydraulic system More Inventive Principles

23. Sample Contradiction • Weight of moving object vs force • Use 8, 10, 18, 37 • Counterweight • Prior action • Mechanical vibration • Thermal expansion • Amounts to an expert system depending upon technical blocks.

24. Physical Contradiction • Single parameter that we want to both increase and decrease. • Do not compromise: Invent. • Separation principles for overcoming: • Separation in time • Separation in space • Separation in scale

25. Examples of Separation Solutions • Siberian pile driving: desire sharp point to drive easily, blunt point to sustain max load. • Separate in time • Explosive charge after driving • Coating problem: high temp for quick coating, but coating breaks down • Separate in space • Local heating, quick coating, but chemical OK.

26. More Examples • Want bike transmission to be rigid for strength, but flexible for smooth drive • Separation in scale • Bike chain is rigid at small scale, but flexible at large scale.

27. SU-Field Theory • Substances act through fields • Field types: • Mechanical • Acoustic • Thermal • Chemical • Electric • Magnetic • Diagram

28. TRIZ Well Known in Russia • Less so elsewhere • Software to implement TRIZ in various ways. Invention machine & IDEATION software. • Extension to non-tech systems.

29. Connections • Similarities • Evolutionary foundations • List based • Heuristics based • Contradictions -> bisociation? • Differences • Grasp at universality

30. Speculation • Integrate GP-GA with TRIZ engine to generate new domains. • How far can we go with automating “true invention” machine? • How can we represent important items? • Past invention • Scientific knowledge

31. Flexible film or thin membranes Use porous material Change color Make homogeneous Rejecting or regenerating parts Transform physical-chemical states Phase transition Thermal expansion Use oxidizers Inert environment Composite material Even More