Accelerating What’s Ahead in Aerospace and Defense                               

 

From AI to hybrid-electric propulsion, RTX’s transformative technologies are defining our future.

The aerospace and defense industries are in the midst of rapid transformation. As air travel surges, there’s a pressing need to increase fuel efficiency and reduce operating costs. Simultaneously, the defense sector faces increasing pressure to modernize its capabilities and improve operational efficiency amid budget constraints. Add technological advances and shifting geopolitical currents to the mix, and it’s clear the sector is at a crossroads. That’s why industry leaders are seeking innovative solutions that not only enhance performance but also reduce costs.

RTX is at the forefront of these efforts, along with its three businesses: Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. For example, the Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engine has enabled up to 20% improved fuel efficiency for today’s single aisle aircraft, helping operators save an estimated 2 billion gallons of fuel since entering service in 2016. Meanwhile, the company’s next-generation defense systems make it a critical player in national and global security.

The rapid clip of progress stems from collaboration and synergy between each business, as well as the company’s research centers, the RTX Technology Research Center (RTRC) and RTX BBN Technologies (BBN) which have been providing the company with valuable central research expertise for nearly a century. These entities work in tandem to try to solve some of the industry’s most complex problems and anticipate future challenges along the way.

“It’s all about unlocking the scale of this company,” says Juan de Bedout, chief technology officer at RTX. “We have 57,000 engineers in every discipline imaginable, with a rich history in many of these spaces. We can take our resources, pull them together, invest in a joint way, and drive solutions and outcomes that are much faster for our individual businesses collectively.”

New Electric Technologies

One key area of research centers on hybrid-electric propulsion, which combines traditional fuel-burning jet engines with electric motors and batteries to increase fuel efficiency and performance. While Pratt & Whitney’s engines have contributed to a significant increase in fuel efficiency since the dawn of the jet age, hybrid-electric propulsion is one of many technologies which could help continue this trend.​

“We’re finding opportunities for a technology that’s evolved in one space to cross over to another context, and potentially create some disruption in a new domain,” says Scott Kaslusky, vice president of aerospace technology at RTX.

The company is spearheading hybrid-electric propulsion technology across a range of demonstrator programs. One such demonstrator combines a highly efficient Pratt & Whitney Canada thermal engine with a Collins Aerospace 1 megawatt electric motor, providing the potential to optimize performance across different phases of flight.

RTX also recently reached another key milestone with a hybrid-electric demonstrator (or prototype) known as STEP-Tech (for Scalable Turboelectric Powertrain Technology) a collaboration between Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney and the RTRC that will be used to develop future electric-propulsion tools. Recent tests proved the ability of STEP-Tech’s battery system to start a thermal engine and use electrical power to charge the batteries that drive the devices providing propulsion. The modularity of the platform will allow researchers to test and refine different powertrain configurations.

“It’s really about finding efficiency gains and reducing operational costs,” Kaslusky says. “From a technology perspective, you talk about the problem while looking for a solution, and the solution while looking for a problem. Collaboration is what opens the door to bringing those two things together.”

New Materials, New Possibilities

Hybrid-electric flight is just one dimension of RTX’s technology efforts. Another is developing new classes (or “generations”) of advanced materials used in aerospace engineering.

The RTRC is particularly focused on high-entropy alloys, which are specialized metal blends that are uniquely strong, lightweight, and capable of operating at temperatures that would melt most of the metals in the periodic table. Put into practice, they can be used to craft components that make planes lighter or allow aircraft engines to operate at temperatures hundreds of degrees hotter than those available today, resulting in greater fuel efficiency.

“From a technology perspective, you talk about the problem while looking for a solution, and the solution while looking for a problem. Collaboration is what opens the door to bringing those two things together.”

Scott Kaslusky, Vice President of Aerospace Technology, RTX

The challenge with high-entropy alloys is that there are virtually infinite potential combinations of materials, says Andreas Roelofs, director of the RTRC and RTX’s vice president of research and development. “If you want to read every paper, every patent and every book about alloys in every language in the world, you’ll be busy for a couple of lifetimes.”

By using artificial intelligence and machine learning, RTX is significantly shortening the time needed for development from decades to a few short years. These models pore through findings to suggest new alloys from more than 600 billion possible combinations, enabling scientists to make more informed decisions and spend more time testing the materials with the most potential.

“You need to keep investing and moving the needle,” Roelofs says. “There’s really no better place to drive the development of new ideas that will have a real impact in aerospace and defense. That is the best gift.”

Innovation Takes Wing

Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies are also being built into next-generation products to provide robust new capabilities while ensuring they aren’t overwhelming to operators. For example, the technology can assist service crews and help minimize downtime, or guide operators through complex decisions, even using pattern recognition to analyze and address problems. And on the engineering side, AI could be used to aid in the design of future aircraft engines and radar systems.

“Artificial intelligence tools allow us to find incredibly powerful, rich and high-performing solutions by combining the creativity of human designers with the ability of machines to handle complexity,” de Bedout says.

At the end of the day, each of these transformative technologies—hybrid-electric propulsion, high-entropy alloys, predictive AI, and scores of others—helps RTX meet the aerospace and defense industries’ critical needs not only now, but also well into the future. And as the scientists and engineers at Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney and Raytheon share their expertise and combine resources, they’re able to develop solutions that much faster.

“We see an opportunity for commercial flight that’s going to be more efficient, faster and more streamlined from source to destination for every traveler,” de Bedout says. “On the defense side, we’re creating a future that helps us protect democracies around the world. Getting there is all about synergy and collaboration—that’s what’s so powerful.”

Author:  Anonymous, RTX

TRIZ Applications: In this informative description of how RTX is combining its resources (Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon), we see a clear application of expanding solution space to define and solve problems faster and with better results. The development of hybrid airplanes using jet engines and electric motors to increase fuel efficiency and range, is a problem that has been used in the automotive industry for almost 20 years.

The use of TRIZ tools and methods with LLM’s is powerful combination to solve today’s complex problems faster and with better results.

Details

Category: Inside TRIZ

TRIZ: The Backbone of Innovation and Problem-Solving

Unchain your brain by using techniques that are proven by empirical data.

By Richard Langevin                                                                                                                  February 18, 2025

Image Source: adventtr / iStock / Getty Images Plus

TRIZ, or Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, is a methodology developed by Genrich Altshuller and his colleagues in the mid-20th century. This system is designed to solve engineering and technical problems creatively. The core idea is that the process of innovation is not random but follows predictable patterns using tools developed from the rigorous study of patents.

Here are some of the main components of TRIZ:

1. Contradictions: Identifying and resolving contradictions within a system. Instead of making compromises, TRIZ aims to eliminate them.
2. 40 Principles of Invention: A set of strategies to overcome technical challenges.
3. Ideal Final Result (IFR): A vision of the best possible outcome without constraints.
4. Evolution Patterns: Recognizing that systems evolve in predictable ways over time.
5. Functional Analysis: Understanding and improving the functions of a system.

TRIZ is widely used in various industries to foster innovation and streamline the problem-solving process.

TRIZ can be considered as the backbone of technological innovation for several key reasons:

1. Systematic Approach: Unlike traditional brainstorming, which can be somewhat random, TRIZ provides a structured method for solving problems and generating innovative ideas. This systematic approach increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the innovation process.
2. Predictable Patterns of Evolution: TRIZ is based on the analysis of thousands of patents and innovations across various industries. By identifying patterns of technological evolution and problem-solving, TRIZ provides a set of tools and principles that can be applied to new problems, making the innovation process more predictable.
3. Elimination of Contradictions: One of the core principles of TRIZ is to resolve contradictions without compromise. This approach often leads to breakthrough innovations, as it encourages thinking beyond conventional solutions.
4. Comprehensive Toolkit: TRIZ offers a wide range of tools, including the 40 inventive principles, the contradiction matrix, and the concept of the Ideal Final Result (IFR). These tools help innovators systematically analyze and solve complex problems.
5. Cross-Industry Applicability: TRIZ is not limited to any specific field or industry. Its principles can be applied to any technical or engineering problem, making it a versatile and powerful method for fostering innovation.
6. Focus on Functionality: TRIZ emphasizes the importance of improving the functionality of a system. By focusing on the functions and their interactions, TRIZ helps identify areas for improvement and innovation.
7. Encourages Radical Innovation: By challenging conventional thinking and encouraging the resolution of contradictions, TRIZ promotes radical, rather than incremental, innovation. This often leads to groundbreaking solutions that can transform industries.

In essence, TRIZ provides a robust framework that guides innovators through the complex process of problem-solving and idea generation, making it a cornerstone of technological innovation.

 READ MORE

• How Closed Loop Quality and AI-Driven Machine Vision are Transforming Manufacturing
• Trends in Manufacturing: Advances in Technologies and Methodologies
• The Role of Lean Daily Management in Sustaining a Lean Culture

Where has TRIZ been used?

TRIZ has been successfully implemented in various industries, leading to significant improvements and impressive returns on investment (ROI). Here are a few notable examples:

1. Samsung Electronics: Samsung used TRIZ to resolve the contradiction between improving battery life and reducing device weight in their Galaxy phones. By applying TRIZ principles, they developed innovative methodologies that allowed them to enhance battery performance while making the devices lighter 1. This led to increased customer satisfaction and market share.
2. Boeing: Boeing applied TRIZ to improve the design and manufacturing processes of their aircraft. By using TRIZ principles, they were able to identify and eliminate contradictions in their design, resulting in more efficient and cost-effective production processes. This led to significant savings and improved aircraft performance.
3. Hewlett-Packard (HP): HP used TRIZ to address various IT-related problems, including data security, CPU cycle costs, private clouds, and leased asset management. By applying TRIZ principles, HP was able to uncover novel solutions that improved system performance and reduced costs 2. This resulted in substantial ROI and enhanced competitiveness in the IT industry.
4. Automotive Industry: TRIZ has been applied in the automotive industry to achieve cost reduction and innovation. By integrating TRIZ into their Design to Cost (DTC) framework, companies were able to solve contradictions and achieve significant cost improvements without compromising on quality 3. This led to increased profitability and market competitiveness.

These examples demonstrate how TRIZ can be effectively used to drive innovation and achieve substantial ROI across various industries.

 Other users of TRIZ

TRIZ has been successfully applied by several companies to drive innovation and solve complex problems. Here are a few more examples:

1. Siemens: Siemens has applied TRIZ to various projects, including the redesign of a streetcar driver seat armrest. This application helped simplify assembly and reduce costs 3.
2. HP (Hewlett-Packard): HP has utilized TRIZ to address IT-related problems, such as data security and CPU cycle costs. The methodology has helped uncover novel and innovative solutions 4.
3. Emerson Electric: Emerson Electric has leveraged TRIZ to enhance its engineering and manufacturing processes, leading to more efficient and effective solutions.
4. Motorola: Motorola has used TRIZ to improve product design and development, resulting in innovative solutions and better product performance.
5. NASA: NASA has applied TRIZ to solve engineering challenges in space exploration, leading to advancements in technology and mission success.
6. Johnson & Johnson: Johnson & Johnson has implemented TRIZ to drive innovation in healthcare products, improving patient outcomes and streamlining manufacturing processes.

These companies have demonstrated that TRIZ can be a powerful tool for fostering creativity, improving processes, and driving innovation across various industries.

Application with other Methodologies

TRIZ complements other problem-solving methodologies by providing unique perspectives and tools that enhance the overall innovation process. Here’s how TRIZ can work in harmony with other methodologies:

1. Six Sigma: TRIZ can be integrated with Six Sigma to enhance problem-solving capabilities. While Six Sigma focuses on reducing defects and improving quality through statistical analysis, TRIZ offers inventive principles and tools to address complex technical contradictions. This combination leads to more innovative and robust solutions.
2. Lean Manufacturing: Lean focuses on eliminating waste and improving processes. TRIZ can complement Lean by providing inventive solutions to eliminate inefficiencies and enhance value. For example, TRIZ can help resolve contradictions in process improvement, leading to more effective waste reduction strategies.
3. Design Thinking: Design Thinking emphasizes empathy and user-centric solutions. TRIZ can complement this by providing systematic tools to overcome technical challenges and contradictions identified during the ideation phase. This synergy ensures that innovative solutions are both user-friendly and technically feasible.
4. Agile Methodology: Agile promotes iterative development and flexibility. TRIZ can enhance Agile by offering inventive solutions to technical problems that arise during sprints. TRIZ’s systematic approach to problem-solving can help Agile teams quickly find innovative solutions and maintain project momentum.
5. Root Cause Analysis (RCA): RCA identifies underlying causes of problems. TRIZ can complement RCA by providing inventive principles to address and eliminate root causes. This combination ensures that solutions are not only effective but also innovative and sustainable.
6. PDCA Cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act): TRIZ can be integrated into the PDCA cycle to enhance continuous improvement efforts. During the planning phase, TRIZ tools can be used to identify innovative solutions. In the “Do” and “Check” phases, TRIZ can help resolve any contradictions that arise, leading to more effective implementation and evaluation.
7. Brainstorming and Ideation Techniques: TRIZ can be used alongside traditional brainstorming techniques to enhance creativity. While brainstorming generates a wide range of ideas, TRIZ provides systematic tools to evaluate and refine these ideas, leading to more innovative and practical solutions.

By integrating TRIZ with these methodologies, organizations can benefit from a comprehensive and multifaceted approach to problem-solving and innovation. This synergy ensures that solutions are not only efficient and effective but also inventive and transformative.

Summary

TRIZ stands as a cornerstone of innovation due to its structured, systematic approach to problem-solving. By identifying and eliminating contradictions without compromise, TRIZ fosters radical innovation and streamlines the creative process. Its comprehensive toolkit, including the 40 inventive principles, 39 parameters, the Ideal Final Result (IFR), and evolutionary patterns, provides a robust framework that can be applied across various industries, making it universally applicable.

The methodology's success is evidenced by its implementation in leading companies such as Samsung, Boeing, HP, Intel, Siemens, Emerson Electric, Motorola, NASA, and Johnson & Johnson. These organizations have leveraged TRIZ to achieve significant improvements in product design, process efficiency, and overall innovation, leading to substantial returns on investment.

Furthermore, TRIZ complements other problem-solving methodologies like Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, Design Thinking, Agile, Root Cause Analysis, and the PDCA Cycle. By integrating TRIZ with these methodologies, organizations can enhance their innovation capabilities, driving both incremental and breakthrough improvements.

In essence, TRIZ provides a powerful, systematic approach to solving complex problems and expediting innovation. Its universal applicability, coupled with its ability to complement other methodologies, makes it an invaluable and disruptive asset for any organization seeking to improvement its profitability and market share with new groundbreaking products and services.

Introducing TRIZ to management, R&D departments and to your strategic planning groups is a worthwhile investment to increase your company’s future and profitability. Providing your people with the tools that they need will pay great dividends.

KEYWORDS: continuous improvement, education, innovation, manufacturing, metrology, problem solving, problems, process control, technology, TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving), universal testers

About the author:

Richard Langevin is the principal owner and CEO of Technical Innovation Center Inc. (est.1995) www.triz.org. He is also the Executive Director and a founder of the Altshuller Institute for TRIZ Studies Inc. since 1998. www.aitriz.org

Details

Category: Inside TRIZ

Enhance Your Innovation     

Technique Using TOP-TRIZ, the Next Generation of TRIZ

Zinovy Royzen                                                                                                                               Dec. 31, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A TRIZ Master’s guide to inventing future generations of products using TOP-TRIZ technology forecasting guides.

In my consulting practice, innovation challenges that dogged teams having very good and experienced engineers for months or even years were resolved in a matter of days or hours. It was not magic; we used TOP-TRIZ. The teams’ problem was the ineffectiveness of methods for solving creative problems like brainstorming, 5-ways, fishbone diagram and other methods based on random creativity. TOP-TRIZ provides algorithms to solve six types of problems in innovation based on generalization of solutions in most ideal and innovative inventions.  

The first goal of Genrich Altshuller, the creator of TRIZ (a Russian acronym that means Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) was to eliminate randomness in idea generation and develop a method guiding people invent as most experienced inventors. 

Engineers generate new ideas based on their personal background; however, no one is a subject matter expert in everything. It is difficult to come up with the best solution to a challenging problem if it is outside of the background of the person attempting to solve it. But even when the best solution to a challenging problem is within the background of the problem-solver, it is still difficult to overcome preconceived notions and psychological barriers.

Alex Osborn, the creator of brainstorming, suggested making a team of people with different background work on a problem. His rules center around how the members of a team should work together.  Recommendations for participants in a brainstorming session include focusing on creativity and generating as many ideas as possible. However, there is no guidance on how to be creative in generating new ideas. Additionally, there is no acknowledgment of the different types of challenging problems that arise in innovation. Brainstorming and brainstorming-based methods are thus ineffective and inefficient, delaying new product development for a long time.

In line with Francis Bacon’s suggestion that any practical science has to be developed as generalization of vast amount of specific information, Altshuller started development of the first practical scientific approach to invent with analysis of hundreds of thousands of patent disclosures, because each patent disclosure describes a problem and a proposed solution to it.

The first stage of Altshuller’s work took about 15 years, including a four-year break—during which time he was a political prisoner in one of Stalin’s Gulags! Starting in 1946, he first focused on studying inventions aimed at solving conflicts or contradictions, which are the most challenging type of problems that engineers face in innovation every day. Usually, an attempt to improve a feature or a function affects another feature or function. In most cases, engineers resort to trade-offs, sacrificing one or both conflicting functions. When optimization or compromise isn’t possible, these problems often remain unresolved for a very long time.

After analyzing about 200,000 patent disclosures, Altshuller discovered that roughly 20% of the inventions were breakthrough solutions to conflicts, achieving necessary improvements without any deterioration of the conflicting functions—without trade-offs or compromises. He noticed that all these solutions resulted from specific changes inventors made to their products or systems.  

40 Inventive Principles to Help Solve Technical Contradictions

Generalizing the changes in products suggested by about 40,000 breakthrough inventions led him to identify 173 typical modifications. He grouped these modifications into a set known as the 40 Inventive Principles, or, in a literal translation, the 40 Principles to Solve Technical Contradictions. In addition, Altshuller developed a two-dimensional Contradiction Matrix, which includes 39 of the most common parameters or features that require improvement or are likely to deteriorate.

To match a conflict from a real-life problem with one in the Matrix, a user selects the parameter that needs improvement and the parameter that would be deteriorated by the improvement. In this intersection, the Matrix will offer a cell with up to four Inventive Principles that are most used to solve similar contradictions. Although the Matrix provides solutions for about 1,200 of the most common contradictions in hardware engineering, it is often challenging to match a real-life contradiction with one in the Matrix, as the 39 parameters may not be sufficient to cover all possible scenarios.

The 40 Principles and the Matrix have been described in many publications. Due to the simplicity of the 1971 method, it has become popular among some consultants, leading to the misconception that the Inventive Principles are synonymous with TRIZ or, at the very least, the foundation of modern TRIZ. In reality, the 40 Principles were just the starting point in the development of TRIZ.

READ MORE: Inventive Principles to Solving

In recent years, there have been attempts to increase the number of parameters in the Matrix and add more Principles. However, these efforts failed to address the underlying reasons why Altshuller completely abandoned the Inventive Principles and the Matrix, replacing them with Classical TRIZ, which he had been developing until 1985.

By the early 1970s, Altshuller realized that his goal of eliminating randomness in solving contradictions had not been achieved using the Inventive Principles and the Matrix. He also understood the reasons behind this limitation.

First, Altshuller realized that most problems could not be solved in a single step from problem to final solution. As he wrote in his book, And Suddenly the Inventor Appeared, most problems require a combination of two or more Principles. He explained, “Ten thousand two-method combinations can be produced out of one hundred methods! You can imagine the number of solutions we can get if we use a combination of three, four, or five methods. So, let us stop solving problems by sorting out different solutions or using the trial-and-error method.”

Second, the Matrix helps identify a conflict between two functions—when one function is improved, the conflicting function is affected. However, Altshuller discovered that a conflict between two functions is merely a surface-level understanding of the problem. In any conflict, there is a single parameter controlling both of the conflicting functions. This parameter needs to have one value for the best performance of one function and a different value for the best performance of the conflicting function.

The need to establish two different values for the same parameter is what Altshuller called a physical contradiction, which is the root cause of the conflict. He questioned why we should try to solve a conflict without understanding its root cause. To address this, Altshuller began developing an algorithm to resolve conflicts, which would lead a user from understanding the conflict between two functions to recognizing its underlying physical contradiction. There are just a few rules to separate physical contradictions. 

Without knowledge of TRIZ, engineers are trained to optimize the functions of a conflict or adjust the values of the parameter controlling those functions. Trade-offs, however, are not the best possible solutions. The ideal or breakthrough solution should allow for the improvement of one function without any deterioration of the other. Yet, in many cases, a trade-off is not possible, leaving problems unresolved for months, years, or even decades.

Third, how can we match the vast number of parameters possible in real-world problems with just the 39 parameters of the Matrix? Attempts to increase the number of parameters to 50 or 100 still fall short of capturing all potential parameters. Altshuller solved this problem by inventing a way to describe conflicts using symbols. With this approach, any conflict can be described without relying on specific parameters at all. 

Fourth, each Matrix cell offers only up to four principles, but not all the principles that could be used to solve a respective contradiction. Inventive Principles were the first and very primitive method for solving contradictions without addressing their root causes. Altshuller even omitted mention of the Inventive Principles and the Matrix in his book To Catch an Idea, his last book on problem-solving.

Published in 1985, it described his final version of TRIZ, now known as Classical TRIZ. The first description of Classical TRIZ in English was presented in my paper “Application of TRIZ in Value Management and Quality Improvement” at the Society of American Value Engineers International Conference in 1993 and published in the 1993 SAVE Proceedings, pages 94-101.

Five Types of Innovation Problems

Classical TRIZ, as developed by 1985, addresses five types of problems in innovation, with conflicts being only one of these types. Altshuller regarded ARIZ (the Russian acronym for Algorithm for Inventive Problem Solving) as his next-generation conflict-solving method. He continuously worked on developing and refining ARIZ until 1985, when his health deteriorated, forcing him to halt further work on Classical TRIZ. Up until then, he had been publishing new versions of ARIZ almost every year.

ARIZ-85 is an algorithm guided step-by-step from a conflict between two functions to its deepest problem domain called physical contradiction, where a parameter controlling both conflicting functions has to have two values. This method proved so powerful that just a few rules of Physical Contradiction Separation replaced the entire set of Inventive Principles.  

Until 1971, Altshuller considered a problem “inventive” only if it involved a contradiction. Later, however, he identified four additional types of inventive problems beyond conflicts. These are: 1) the need to eliminate detrimental or harmful functions; 2) the need to introduce new functions or improve existing ones; 3) the need to introduce or enhance detection or measurement capabilities; and 4) the need to invent next-generation products, thus addressing a wider array of innovation challenges.

Altshuller introduced Substance-Field Models (or Su-Field models) to represent conflicts and other types of inventive problems using symbolic notation. This approach was as revolutionary in innovation as the use of symbols in mathematics, which led to the development of algebra, or the introduction of symbolic notation in chemistry. By abstracting complex technical problems into symbolic models, Su-Field models allowed systematic analysis and problem-solving, providing a powerful tool within TRIZ for addressing a broad spectrum of engineering and design challenges.

Developing Standard Solutions Based on Patent Disclosures

Using symbols to describe problems and solutions to them, he developed a set of 76 Standard Solutions based on his analysis and generalization of ideal solutions found in the world-wide patent disclosures of the most innovative inventions.

By employing symbols to describe problems and their solutions, Altshuller developed a set of 76 Standard Solutions. These were based on his analysis and generalization of ideal solutions found in patent disclosures of groundbreaking inventions worldwide. The Standard Solutions provided a structured framework within TRIZ, enabling inventors and engineers to systematically approach and solve complex problems by leveraging proven patterns from highly innovative solutions.

Altshuller discovered that all products and technologies tend to follow similar developmental steps over time. Based on this insight, he proposed using these steps as trends, known in literal translation as the Laws of Engineering System Evolution (LESE), to guide the invention of next-generation products. LESE outlines predictable patterns in technological evolution, offering a roadmap for anticipating and shaping future innovations in a systematic way.

With his Classical TRIZ, Altshuller was much closer to his goal to eliminate randomness in idea generation. However, as with any original step in science, there was a lot of room for further development. This became clear to me from the very beginning of my extensive professional TRIZ training and consulting.

From January 1988 until my departure to the U.S. alone, about 3,000 engineers attended our Kishinev’s month-long training using a program approved by Altshuller. Out of 192 hours of training, just two hours were reserved for Inventive Principles, mostly with the purpose of explaining the history of TRIZ. Guiding participants to solve their real-life problems and answering their questions helped to realize that Classical TRIZ should be developed further to make TRIZ more powerful while easy to learn and apply.

With Classical TRIZ, Altshuller moved closer to his goal of eliminating randomness in idea generation. However, as with any pioneering scientific framework, there was ample room for further development. This became clear to me from the start of my extensive professional TRIZ training and consulting. From January 1988 until I left for the U.S., around 3,000 engineers attended our month-long training program in Kishinev, which was approved by Altshuller.

Of the 192 hours of training, only two hours were dedicated to the Inventive Principles, mainly to cover the history of TRIZ. Working closely with participants on real-life problems and addressing their questions made me realize the potential for further developing Classical TRIZ. This would make TRIZ more powerful, accessible and easier to apply.

Classical TRIZ lacked a structured approach for problem formulation. While users learned to model problems, they often struggled to identify which specific problem to model. The various TRIZ methods were not well integrated, leading to confusion as multiple techniques were available for addressing similar classes of problems, without clear guidance on which method to apply. Additionally, the final version of ARIZ—with its nine parts and 40 rules—was too complex for easy learning and application.

Beginners frequently made errors in Step 1, rendering the remainder of the process ineffective. Efforts to create a flowchart just for using the 76 Standard Solutions resulted in extremely large, complex diagrams spanning several pages in some TRIZ books, which further underscored the need for simplification and integration.

Refining a TRIZ Method for American Engineers

TOP-TRIZ is the next generation of TRIZ, developed through my three-and-a-half decades of practical experience and continuous refinement of TRIZ methods. In early 1992, I founded TRIZ Consulting, Inc., the first company in the U.S. dedicated to applying TRIZ, introducing the methodology to industry leaders like Boeing, Hewlett-Packard, and Samsung. Facilitating teams on complex challenges and training thousands of engineers (including more than 2,000 at Boeing alone) helped me identify essential improvements to TRIZ methods—refinements that became integral to TOP-TRIZ.

As a result of years of continuous improvement of Classical TRIZ, it gradually evolved into TOP-TRIZ, the most powerful yet user-friendly iteration for solving complex problems in product innovation and developing future generations of products. This transformation was achieved through the development of advanced problem formulation techniques, including my Tool-Object-Product (TOP) Function Modeling. TOP-TRIZ uses a step-by-step process to uncover a comprehensive range of problems worth solving.

Moreover, TRIZ methods were advanced and integrated into a single, cohesive system, complete with algorithms for creating ideal breakthrough solutions across the six classes of innovation problems. By organizing techniques that address the same class of problems together, TOP-TRIZ not only helps in solving problems but also guides users in formulating, classifying and solving subsequent challenges while maximizing resource use and minimizing costs.

TOP-TRIZ has proven invaluable for solving difficult problems, improving quality, reliability, productivity and reducing costs. It has enabled customers to develop next-generation products, secure new orders, increase market share, save hundreds of millions of dollars, enhance product reliability, develop new products and protect innovations through new patents.

Zinovy Royzen, TRIZ Consulting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The TOP-TRIZ Flow Chart, the simplest and the most user-friendly TRIZ flow chart, according to the author, Zinovy Royzen.

Useful Versus Harmful Function Analysis

TOP-TRIZ Problem Formulation is a universal set of guiding steps to analyze a challenge and formulate an exhaustive set of problems where every problem is a single function or two functions if they are in a conflict with each other. An essential part of problem formulation is my Tool-Object-Product (TOP) Function Analysis, next generation of Function Analysis. 

According to TOP Function Analysis, a complete function model consists of four elements:

1. the Tool (the action provider);
2. an Action applied to the Object (recipient of the action);
3. the Object (recipient of the action); and
4. the Product (result of the action).

A function is useful if its result is needed, and harmful if its result is unwanted. A useful function can be insufficient if the result is less than needed. A useful function can be needed but absent if there is no action taken. A harmful function is unknown if the action is unknown. There are seven steps for the complete analysis of a useful function. There are six steps for the complete analysis of a harmful function including identification of its root cause and consequences. Even a complex challenge can be described by the involved functions. 

This approach provides a structured, comprehensive method for problem formulation and analysis, ensuring no aspect of the challenge is overlooked.

READ MORE: Triz is Now Practiced in 50 Countries

Introducing the product of a function into the function model completes the analysis and creates a clear, understandable link between functions. For example, the product of one function can serve as the tool or object in another function. This interlinking of functions is crucial for understanding the dependencies between them, particularly in the performance of a system. It is also key in analyzing a chain of harmful functions, helping to uncover the root causes of a failure.

By tracing this chain or tree of harmful functions—from the failure itself to its root cause and eventual consequences—users can more effectively diagnose and address issues within a system. This approach ensures a comprehensive view of how functions interact, leading to more precise and effective solutions.

An exhaustive set of problems includes:

1. Current problems.
2. Disadvantages of the known solutions to the current problems.
3. Problems revealed by function analysis.
4. Problems formulated by analysis of the history of the current problems.
5. Problems formulated by challenging constraints.
6. Problem formulated by analysis of the alternative system.
7. Problems formulated by applying Ideal Ways, an algorithm guiding four different ways to eliminate any component or even its feature associated with any disadvantage, such as cost, complexity, difficulty to make, low reliability, not easy to use or affecting something else.

TOP-TRIZ Problem Solving

TOP-TRIZ classifies formulated problems into the following six classes and provides algorithms to develop exhaustive set of ideal solutions to each of them. The classes of problems are an unknown harmful function, a need to introduce or improve detection or measurement, a conflict, a harmful function, an absent or insufficient function and a need to invent next product generation.

TOP-TRIZ classifies formulated problems into six distinct classes: an unknown harmful function, a need to introduce or improve detection or measurement, a conflict, a harmful function, an absent or insufficient function, and a need to invent a product’s next generation. For each of these classes, TOP-TRIZ provides algorithms to develop a comprehensive set of ideal solutions, ensuring that all possible avenues for innovation are explored and addressed systematically.

A problem is classified as an Absent or Insufficient Action if there is a need to introduce a new function or find a better way to perform an existing function. Solving this class of problems is guided by a method called Build a Sufficient Function. The key to this method is a guide to introduce a missing action and identify one or more possible sources of the action among available resources. A list of most used fields (the physical nature of actions) helps to overcome preconceived notions and background barriers (psychological inertia) in the selection of possible nature of the action.

A problem is a Conflict if an attempt to eliminate a harmful function deteriorates or even disables a useful function. The TOP model of a conflict consists of these two functions. TOP-TRIZ Conflict Solving Algorithm is the next generation of Altshuller’s ARIZ, a step-by-step guide to developing breakthrough solutions to a conflict while eliminating the harmful function completely without any deterioration of the useful function and even sometimes with the improvement of it as well. It consists of six steps.

The first four steps—each one or two simple sentences—lead to identifying three physical contradictions behind the conflict. The fifth step applies all six ways to separate physical contradictions. Most conflicts could be solved by using just Step 1, resulting in Physical Contradiction 1, and Step 5 for its separation. Step 6 guides the TOP-TRIZ user to state subsequent problems, if any. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOP-TRIZ classifies formulated problems into six classes and provides algorithms to develop an exhaustive set of ideal solutions to each of them.

A problem is classified as a Harmful Action if it results in a harmful or not needed product. Harmful Action Elimination methods guide a TOP-TRIZ user to eliminate a harmful function and, if possible, leads to turning the harmful function into a useful function.

A problem is classified as an Unknown Harmful Function if its action is unknown. The method for revealing the root causes of a failure is based on inventing ways to recreate the failure. Here the TOP-TRIZ user turns the problem on its head, pretending that the harmful product of a failure is a desired product. This allows the user to apply all of the power of TOP-TRIZ to invent potential mechanisms of the failure. 

A problem is classified as a Detection or Measurement if there is a need to introduce a detection or measurement or improve existing ones. Since in most cases detection or measurement is needed to control an important process, the best approach is to eliminate the need for detection or measurement. If it is not possible, the method guides to build the most effective detection or measurement system.

A problem is classified as Technology Forecasting if there is a need to invent next product generation, formulate new problems for further improvement of an existing system, maximize utilization of new solutions, develop a road map of innovation and marketing strategy, or develop concepts for a patent umbrella. 

In contrast with conventional road mapping of innovation of products based on approximation of trends of some of their parameters without understanding how these desired parameter changes could be achieved, TOP-TRIZ technology forecasting guides inventing the future generations of products.

READ MORE: TRIZ Plus – A Modern Tool for Enhancing Design Innovation

TOP-TRIZ technology forecasting is based on the following trends of evolution of many products from their birth to their decline. Statistically, there is a very high probability that your product will have the same steps in its evolution.

• Increase the degree of Ideality of your system                                        
• Determine the stage of the evolution of your system                           
• Replace a limited system                                                                         
• Identify and solve contradictions behind the limits of your system      
• Develop the structure of your system                                                                       
• Simplify your system                                                                                                       
• Increase the degree of dynamism                                                                              
• Change states of stability                                                                                
• Match properties                                                                                                              
• Enhance useful actions                                                                                                   
• Alter the zone and/or the duration of useful actions                                           
• Remove a human as a source of energy and/or control                       

Solving Subsequent Problems

It is rare for a challenging problem to be solved in just one step. Usually, a new concept introduces a new problem. Most often, a solution to the initial problem leads to the deterioration of another aspect, creating a conflict, or reveals the need to modify an available resource (an absent action), or both. In such cases, a subsequent problem is not a reason to reject an idea. TOP-TRIZ guides users in identifying, classifying and solving these subsequent problems. 

There is another type of subsequent problem to consider. No matter how good your new concept is, there are always next steps according to technology forecasting. The question is, why not reveal these steps right away? Many engineers view technology forecasting as a tool for road mapping innovation, and as a result, they don’t apply it while solving a single problem. This oversight leads to missed opportunities to enhance their best concepts further. TOP-TRIZ encourages the proactive use of technology forecasting to reveal these next steps, helping to refine and improve the solution continuously.

TOP-TRIZ Solution Process

Zinovy Royzen, TRIZ Consulting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The TOP-TRIZ Solution Tree is a guide for review and course correction of any step or misstep along the problem-solving algorithm.

TOP-TRIZ allows users to document every step of the solution process and guides them in constructing a Solution Tree for each problem. This approach enables the review and correction of any step, if needed. The documented steps can then be used as reference samples for solving future challenges, ensuring consistency and efficiency in the problem-solving process.

TOP-TRIZ guides you in your project by helping you formulate an exhaustive set of problems worth solving and an exhaustive set of the best solutions to them. This process maximizes the use of available resources, enabling the development of better products at a lower cost.

Enhancing TOP-TRIZ Problem Solving with AI

Sometimes, the best concepts developed in TOP-TRIZ problem-solving process lead to the need for knowledge outside of the participants’ domains of expertise of a project area, since no one is an expert in everything. Here, AI is used as a universal subject matter expert, producing impressive outcomes and significantly cutting down the problem-solving duration. However, one current limitation of AI tools is they are typically limited to solving those problems that require only one single step change to arrive at the best solution.

Yet most problems can’t be solved in one step. Here, the TOP-TRIZ process provides guidance to frame questions that pertain to individual steps. 

Also, our efforts in training AI with TOP-TRIZ have yielded astonishing results. Some issues that dogged our clients for years and took hours to resolve using TOP-TRIZ were solved in a matter of minutes when approached with AI trained on TOP-TRIZ.

Innovator’s Engine, TOP-TRIZ Problem Formulator and Solver Software

The software guides users through all steps of TOP-TRIZ Problem Formulation, solving conflicts, building sufficient functions, harmful action elimination and revealing the causes of a failure. The software states subsequent problems and offers corresponding methods to solve them. Having the same steps and terminology as the TOP-TRIZ training materials, it also helps its users to learn TOP-TRIZ. The software is very effective for facilitation of teams even if they’re not familiar with TOP-TRIZ.

TOP-TRIZ methodology guides you through your project by helping you formulate an exhaustive set of problems related to your system, the current issue and your objectives. It then leads you to develop a comprehensive set of the best solutions. These solutions serve as the foundation for selecting the most ideal solutions for immediate, near-term and long-term implementation. By having an exhaustive set of commercially applicable solutions, you create a strong basis for reliable patent protection, securing your business's innovation for years to come.

TOP-TRIZ methodology offers significant advantages for systematic innovation, helping to develop better products and processes at a lower cost and in less time, all while remaining user-friendly. It enables faster generation of elegant and valuable solutions to even the most challenging design and manufacturing problems, accelerating projects and saving substantial man-hours and money.

References

1. Altshuller, Genrich, And Suddenly the Inventor Appeared: TRIZ, the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving. Translated by Lev Shulyak. Worchester, Massachusetts, Technical Innovation

   file:///C:/Users/Owner/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.png" width="243" height="47" />Enhance Your Innovation

   Technique Using TOP-TRIZ, the Next Generation of TRIZ

   Zinovy Royzen                                                                                                                               Dec. 31, 2024

   A TRIZ Master’s guide to inventing future generations of products using TOP-TRIZ technology forecasting guides.

   In my consulting practice, innovation challenges that dogged teams having very good and experienced engineers for months or even years were resolved in a matter of days or hours. It was not magic; we used TOP-TRIZ. The teams’ problem was the ineffectiveness of methods for solving creative problems like brainstorming, 5-ways, fishbone diagram and other methods based on random creativity. TOP-TRIZ provides algorithms to solve six types of problems in innovation based on generalization of solutions in most ideal and innovative inventions.  

   The first goal of Genrich Altshuller, the creator of TRIZ (a Russian acronym that means Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) was to eliminate randomness in idea generation and develop a method guiding people invent as most experienced inventors. 

   Engineers generate new ideas based on their personal background; however, no one is a subject matter expert in everything. It is difficult to come up with the best solution to a challenging problem if it is outside of the background of the person attempting to solve it. But even when the best solution to a challenging problem is within the background of the problem-solver, it is still difficult to overcome preconceived notions and psychological barriers.

   Alex Osborn, the creator of brainstorming, suggested making a team of people with different background work on a problem. His rules center around how the members of a team should work together.  Recommendations for participants in a brainstorming session include focusing on creativity and generating as many ideas as possible. However, there is no guidance on how to be creative in generating new ideas. Additionally, there is no acknowledgment of the different types of challenging problems that arise in innovation. Brainstorming and brainstorming-based methods are thus ineffective and inefficient, delaying new product development for a long time.

   In line with Francis Bacon’s suggestion that any practical science has to be developed as generalization of vast amount of specific information, Altshuller started development of the first practical scientific approach to invent with analysis of hundreds of thousands of patent disclosures, because each patent disclosure describes a problem and a proposed solution to it.

   The first stage of Altshuller’s work took about 15 years, including a four-year break—during which time he was a political prisoner in one of Stalin’s Gulags! Starting in 1946, he first focused on studying inventions aimed at solving conflicts or contradictions, which are the most challenging type of problems that engineers face in innovation every day. Usually, an attempt to improve a feature or a function affects another feature or function. In most cases, engineers resort to trade-offs, sacrificing one or both conflicting functions. When optimization or compromise isn’t possible, these problems often remain unresolved for a very long time.

   After analyzing about 200,000 patent disclosures, Altshuller discovered that roughly 20% of the inventions were breakthrough solutions to conflicts, achieving necessary improvements without any deterioration of the conflicting functions—without trade-offs or compromises. He noticed that all these solutions resulted from specific changes inventors made to their products or systems.  

   40 Inventive Principles to Help Solve Technical Contradictions

   Generalizing the changes in products suggested by about 40,000 breakthrough inventions led him to identify 173 typical modifications. He grouped these modifications into a set known as the 40 Inventive Principles, or, in a literal translation, the 40 Principles to Solve Technical Contradictions. In addition, Altshuller developed a two-dimensional Contradiction Matrix, which includes 39 of the most common parameters or features that require improvement or are likely to deteriorate.

   To match a conflict from a real-life problem with one in the Matrix, a user selects the parameter that needs improvement and the parameter that would be deteriorated by the improvement. In this intersection, the Matrix will offer a cell with up to four Inventive Principles that are most used to solve similar contradictions. Although the Matrix provides solutions for about 1,200 of the most common contradictions in hardware engineering, it is often challenging to match a real-life contradiction with one in the Matrix, as the 39 parameters may not be sufficient to cover all possible scenarios.

   The 40 Principles and the Matrix have been described in many publications. Due to the simplicity of the 1971 method, it has become popular among some consultants, leading to the misconception that the Inventive Principles are synonymous with TRIZ or, at the very least, the foundation of modern TRIZ. In reality, the 40 Principles were just the starting point in the development of TRIZ.

   READ MORE: Inventive Principles to Solving

   In recent years, there have been attempts to increase the number of parameters in the Matrix and add more Principles. However, these efforts failed to address the underlying reasons why Altshuller completely abandoned the Inventive Principles and the Matrix, replacing them with Classical TRIZ, which he had been developing until 1985.

   By the early 1970s, Altshuller realized that his goal of eliminating randomness in solving contradictions had not been achieved using the Inventive Principles and the Matrix. He also understood the reasons behind this limitation.

   First, Altshuller realized that most problems could not be solved in a single step from problem to final solution. As he wrote in his book, And Suddenly the Inventor Appeared, most problems require a combination of two or more Principles. He explained, “Ten thousand two-method combinations can be produced out of one hundred methods! You can imagine the number of solutions we can get if we use a combination of three, four, or five methods. So, let us stop solving problems by sorting out different solutions or using the trial-and-error method.”

   Second, the Matrix helps identify a conflict between two functions—when one function is improved, the conflicting function is affected. However, Altshuller discovered that a conflict between two functions is merely a surface-level understanding of the problem. In any conflict, there is a single parameter controlling both of the conflicting functions. This parameter needs to have one value for the best performance of one function and a different value for the best performance of the conflicting function.

   The need to establish two different values for the same parameter is what Altshuller called a physical contradiction, which is the root cause of the conflict. He questioned why we should try to solve a conflict without understanding its root cause. To address this, Altshuller began developing an algorithm to resolve conflicts, which would lead a user from understanding the conflict between two functions to recognizing its underlying physical contradiction. There are just a few rules to separate physical contradictions. 

   Without knowledge of TRIZ, engineers are trained to optimize the functions of a conflict or adjust the values of the parameter controlling those functions. Trade-offs, however, are not the best possible solutions. The ideal or breakthrough solution should allow for the improvement of one function without any deterioration of the other. Yet, in many cases, a trade-off is not possible, leaving problems unresolved for months, years, or even decades.

   Third, how can we match the vast number of parameters possible in real-world problems with just the 39 parameters of the Matrix? Attempts to increase the number of parameters to 50 or 100 still fall short of capturing all potential parameters. Altshuller solved this problem by inventing a way to describe conflicts using symbols. With this approach, any conflict can be described without relying on specific parameters at all. 

   Fourth, each Matrix cell offers only up to four principles, but not all the principles that could be used to solve a respective contradiction. Inventive Principles were the first and very primitive method for solving contradictions without addressing their root causes. Altshuller even omitted mention of the Inventive Principles and the Matrix in his book To Catch an Idea, his last book on problem-solving.

   Published in 1985, it described his final version of TRIZ, now known as Classical TRIZ. The first description of Classical TRIZ in English was presented in my paper “Application of TRIZ in Value Management and Quality Improvement” at the Society of American Value Engineers International Conference in 1993 and published in the 1993 SAVE Proceedings, pages 94-101.

   Five Types of Innovation Problems

   Classical TRIZ, as developed by 1985, addresses five types of problems in innovation, with conflicts being only one of these types. Altshuller regarded ARIZ (the Russian acronym for Algorithm for Inventive Problem Solving) as his next-generation conflict-solving method. He continuously worked on developing and refining ARIZ until 1985, when his health deteriorated, forcing him to halt further work on Classical TRIZ. Up until then, he had been publishing new versions of ARIZ almost every year.

   ARIZ-85 is an algorithm guided step-by-step from a conflict between two functions to its deepest problem domain called physical contradiction, where a parameter controlling both conflicting functions has to have two values. This method proved so powerful that just a few rules of Physical Contradiction Separation replaced the entire set of Inventive Principles.  

   Until 1971, Altshuller considered a problem “inventive” only if it involved a contradiction. Later, however, he identified four additional types of inventive problems beyond conflicts. These are: 1) the need to eliminate detrimental or harmful functions; 2) the need to introduce new functions or improve existing ones; 3) the need to introduce or enhance detection or measurement capabilities; and 4) the need to invent next-generation products, thus addressing a wider array of innovation challenges.

   Altshuller introduced Substance-Field Models (or Su-Field models) to represent conflicts and other types of inventive problems using symbolic notation. This approach was as revolutionary in innovation as the use of symbols in mathematics, which led to the development of algebra, or the introduction of symbolic notation in chemistry. By abstracting complex technical problems into symbolic models, Su-Field models allowed systematic analysis and problem-solving, providing a powerful tool within TRIZ for addressing a broad spectrum of engineering and design challenges.

   Developing Standard Solutions Based on Patent Disclosures

   Using symbols to describe problems and solutions to them, he developed a set of 76 Standard Solutions based on his analysis and generalization of ideal solutions found in the world-wide patent disclosures of the most innovative inventions.

   By employing symbols to describe problems and their solutions, Altshuller developed a set of 76 Standard Solutions. These were based on his analysis and generalization of ideal solutions found in patent disclosures of groundbreaking inventions worldwide. The Standard Solutions provided a structured framework within TRIZ, enabling inventors and engineers to systematically approach and solve complex problems by leveraging proven patterns from highly innovative solutions.

   Altshuller discovered that all products and technologies tend to follow similar developmental steps over time. Based on this insight, he proposed using these steps as trends, known in literal translation as the Laws of Engineering System Evolution (LESE), to guide the invention of next-generation products. LESE outlines predictable patterns in technological evolution, offering a roadmap for anticipating and shaping future innovations in a systematic way.

   With his Classical TRIZ, Altshuller was much closer to his goal to eliminate randomness in idea generation. However, as with any original step in science, there was a lot of room for further development. This became clear to me from the very beginning of my extensive professional TRIZ training and consulting.

   From January 1988 until my departure to the U.S. alone, about 3,000 engineers attended our Kishinev’s month-long training using a program approved by Altshuller. Out of 192 hours of training, just two hours were reserved for Inventive Principles, mostly with the purpose of explaining the history of TRIZ. Guiding participants to solve their real-life problems and answering their questions helped to realize that Classical TRIZ should be developed further to make TRIZ more powerful while easy to learn and apply.

   With Classical TRIZ, Altshuller moved closer to his goal of eliminating randomness in idea generation. However, as with any pioneering scientific framework, there was ample room for further development. This became clear to me from the start of my extensive professional TRIZ training and consulting. From January 1988 until I left for the U.S., around 3,000 engineers attended our month-long training program in Kishinev, which was approved by Altshuller.

   Of the 192 hours of training, only two hours were dedicated to the Inventive Principles, mainly to cover the history of TRIZ. Working closely with participants on real-life problems and addressing their questions made me realize the potential for further developing Classical TRIZ. This would make TRIZ more powerful, accessible and easier to apply.

   Classical TRIZ lacked a structured approach for problem formulation. While users learned to model problems, they often struggled to identify which specific problem to model. The various TRIZ methods were not well integrated, leading to confusion as multiple techniques were available for addressing similar classes of problems, without clear guidance on which method to apply. Additionally, the final version of ARIZ—with its nine parts and 40 rules—was too complex for easy learning and application.

   Beginners frequently made errors in Step 1, rendering the remainder of the process ineffective. Efforts to create a flowchart just for using the 76 Standard Solutions resulted in extremely large, complex diagrams spanning several pages in some TRIZ books, which further underscored the need for simplification and integration.

   Refining a TRIZ Method for American Engineers

   TOP-TRIZ is the next generation of TRIZ, developed through my three-and-a-half decades of practical experience and continuous refinement of TRIZ methods. In early 1992, I founded TRIZ Consulting, Inc., the first company in the U.S. dedicated to applying TRIZ, introducing the methodology to industry leaders like Boeing, Hewlett-Packard, and Samsung. Facilitating teams on complex challenges and training thousands of engineers (including more than 2,000 at Boeing alone) helped me identify essential improvements to TRIZ methods—refinements that became integral to TOP-TRIZ.

   As a result of years of continuous improvement of Classical TRIZ, it gradually evolved into TOP-TRIZ, the most powerful yet user-friendly iteration for solving complex problems in product innovation and developing future generations of products. This transformation was achieved through the development of advanced problem formulation techniques, including my Tool-Object-Product (TOP) Function Modeling. TOP-TRIZ uses a step-by-step process to uncover a comprehensive range of problems worth solving.

   Moreover, TRIZ methods were advanced and integrated into a single, cohesive system, complete with algorithms for creating ideal breakthrough solutions across the six classes of innovation problems. By organizing techniques that address the same class of problems together, TOP-TRIZ not only helps in solving problems but also guides users in formulating, classifying, and solving subsequent challenges while maximizing resource use and minimizing costs.

   TOP-TRIZ has proven invaluable for solving difficult problems, improving quality, reliability, productivity, and reducing costs. It has enabled customers to develop next-generation products, secure new orders, increase market share, save hundreds of millions of dollars, enhance product reliability, develop new products, and protect innovations through new patents.

   Zinovy Royzen, TRIZ Consulting

   The TOP-TRIZ Flow Chart is the simplest and most user-friendly TRIZ flow chart according to Royzen..

2. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Useful Versus Harmful Function Analysis

1. TOP-TRIZ Problem Formulation is a universal set of guiding steps to analyze a challenge and formulate an exhaustive set of problems where every problem is a single function or two functions if they are in a conflict with each other. An essential part of problem formulation is my Tool-Object-Product (TOP) Function Analysis, next generation of Function Analysis. 

   According to TOP Function Analysis, a complete function model consists of four elements:

   1. the Tool (the action provider);
   2. an Action applied to the Object (recipient of the action);
   3. the Object (recipient of the action); and
   4. the Product (result of the action).

   A function is useful if its result is needed, and harmful if its result is unwanted. A useful function can be insufficient if the result is less than needed. A useful function can be needed but absent if there is no action taken. A harmful function is unknown if the action is unknown. There are seven steps for the complete analysis of a useful function. There are six steps for the complete analysis of a harmful function including identification of its root cause and consequences. Even a complex challenge can be described by the involved functions. 

   This approach provides a structured, comprehensive method for problem formulation and analysis, ensuring no aspect of the challenge is overlooked.

   READ MORE: Triz is Now Practiced in 50 Countries

   Introducing the product of a function into the function model completes the analysis and creates a clear, understandable link between functions. For example, the product of one function can serve as the tool or object in another function. This interlinking of functions is crucial for understanding the dependencies between them, particularly in the performance of a system. It is also key in analyzing a chain of harmful functions, helping to uncover the root causes of a failure.

   By tracing this chain or tree of harmful functions—from the failure itself to its root cause and eventual consequences—users can more effectively diagnose and address issues within a system. This approach ensures a comprehensive view of how functions interact, leading to more precise and effective solutions.

   An exhaustive set of problems includes:

   1. Current problems.
   2. Disadvantages of the known solutions to the current problems.
   3. Problems revealed by function analysis.
   4. Problems formulated by analysis of the history of the current problems.
   5. Problems formulated by challenging constraints.
   6. Problem formulated by analysis of the alternative system.
   7. Problems formulated by applying Ideal Ways, an algorithm guiding four different ways to eliminate any component or even its feature associated with any disadvantage, such as cost, complexity, difficulty to make, low reliability, not easy to use or affecting something else.

   TOP-TRIZ Problem Solving

   TOP-TRIZ classifies formulated problems into the following six classes and provides algorithms to develop exhaustive set of ideal solutions to each of them. The classes of problems are an unknown harmful function, a need to introduce or improve detection or measurement, a conflict, a harmful function, an absent or insufficient function and a need to invent next product generation.

   TOP-TRIZ classifies formulated problems into six distinct classes: an unknown harmful function, a need to introduce or improve detection or measurement, a conflict, a harmful function, an absent or insufficient function, and a need to invent a product’s next generation. For each of these classes, TOP-TRIZ provides algorithms to develop a comprehensive set of ideal solutions, ensuring that all possible avenues for innovation are explored and addressed systematically.

   A problem is classified as an Absent or Insufficient Action if there is a need to introduce a new function or find a better way to perform an existing function. Solving this class of problems is guided by a method called Build a Sufficient Function. The key to this method is a guide to introduce a missing action and identify one or more possible sources of the action among available resources. A list of most used fields (the physical nature of actions) helps to overcome preconceived notions and background barriers (psychological inertia) in the selection of possible nature of the action.

   A problem is a Conflict if an attempt to eliminate a harmful function deteriorates or even disables a useful function. The TOP model of a conflict consists of these two functions. TOP-TRIZ Conflict Solving Algorithm is the next generation of Altshuller’s ARIZ, a step-by-step guide to developing breakthrough solutions to a conflict while eliminating the harmful function completely without any deterioration of the useful function and even sometimes with the improvement of it as well. It consists of six steps.

   The first four steps—each one or two simple sentences—lead to identifying three physical contradictions behind the conflict. The fifth step applies all six ways to separate physical contradictions. Most conflicts could be solved by using just Step 1, resulting in Physical Contradiction 1, and Step 5 for its separation. Step 6 guides the TOP-TRIZ user to state subsequent problems, if any. 

   The Conflict Solving Algorithm Flow Chart

   Zinovy Royzen, TRIZ Consulting

2. TOP-TRIZ classifies formulated problems into six classes and provides algorithms to develop an exhaustive set of ideal solutions for each of them.

   A problem is classified as a Harmful Action if it results in a harmful or unnecessary product. Harmful Action Elimination methods guide a TOP-TRIZ user to eliminate a harmful function and, if possible, leads to turning the harmful function into a useful function.

   A problem is classified as an Unknown Harmful Function if its action is unknown. The method for revealing the root causes of a failure is based on inventing ways to recreate the failure. Here the TOP-TRIZ user turns the problem on its head, pretending that the harmful product of a failure is a desired product. This allows the user to apply all of the power of TOP-TRIZ to invent potential mechanisms of the failure. 

   A problem is classified as a Detection or Measurement if there is a need to introduce a detection or measurement or improve existing ones. Since in most cases detection or measurement is needed to control an important process, the best approach is to eliminate the need for detection or measurement. If it is not possible, the method guides to build the most effective detection or measurement system.

   A problem is classified as Technology Forecasting if there is a need to invent next product generation, formulate new problems for further improvement of an existing system, maximize utilization of new solutions, develop a road map of innovation and marketing strategy, or develop concepts for a patent umbrella. 

   In contrast with conventional road mapping of innovation of products based on approximation of trends of some of their parameters without understanding how these desired parameter changes could be achieved, TOP-TRIZ technology forecasting guides inventing the future generations of products.

   READ MORE: TRIZ Plus – A Modern Tool for Enhancing Design Innovation

   TOP-TRIZ technology forecasting is based on the following trends of evolution of many products from their birth to their decline. Statistically, there is a very high probability that your product will have the same steps in its evolution.

   • Increase the degree of Ideality of your system                                        
   • Determine the stage of the evolution of your system                           
   • Replace a limited system                                                                         
   • Identify and solve contradictions behind the limits of your system      
   • Develop the structure of your system                                                                       
   • Simplify your system                                                                                                       
   • Increase the degree of dynamism                                                                              
   • Change states of stability                                                                                
   • Match properties                                                                                                              
   • Enhance useful actions                                                                                                   
   • Alter the zone and/or the duration of useful actions                                           
   • Remove a human as a source of energy and/or control                       

   Solving Subsequent Problems

   It is rare for a challenging problem to be solved in just one step. Usually, a new concept introduces a new problem. Most often, a solution to the initial problem leads to the deterioration of another aspect, creating a conflict, or reveals the need to modify an available resource (an absent action), or both. In such cases, a subsequent problem is not a reason to reject an idea. TOP-TRIZ guides users in identifying, classifying and solving these subsequent problems. 

   There is another type of subsequent problem to consider. No matter how good your new concept is, there are always next steps according to technology forecasting. The question is, why not reveal these steps right away? Many engineers view technology forecasting as a tool for road mapping innovation, and as a result, they don’t apply it while solving a single problem. This oversight leads to missed opportunities to enhance their best concepts further. TOP-TRIZ encourages the proactive use of technology forecasting to reveal these next steps, helping to refine and improve the solution continuously.

   TOP-TRIZ Solution Process

   Zinovy Royzen, TRIZ Consulting

   The TOP-TRIZ Solution Tree is a guide for review and course correction of any step or misstep along the problem-solving algorithm.

   TOP-TRIZ allows users to document every step of the solution process and guides them in constructing a Solution Tree for each problem. This approach enables the review and correction of any step, if needed. The documented steps can then be used as reference samples for solving future challenges, ensuring consistency and efficiency in the problem-solving process.

   TOP-TRIZ guides you in your project by helping you formulate an exhaustive set of problems worth solving and an exhaustive set of the best solutions to them. This process maximizes the use of available resources, enabling the development of better products at a lower cost.

   Enhancing TOP-TRIZ Problem Solving with AI

   Sometimes, the best concepts developed in TOP-TRIZ problem-solving process lead to the need for knowledge outside of the participants’ domains of expertise of a project area, since no one is an expert in everything. Here, AI is used as a universal subject matter expert, producing impressive outcomes and significantly cutting down the problem-solving duration. However, one current limitation of AI tools is they are typically limited to solving those problems that require only one single step change to arrive at the best solution.

   Yet most problems can’t be solved in one step. Here, the TOP-TRIZ process provides guidance to frame questions that pertain to individual steps. 

   Also, our efforts in training AI with TOP-TRIZ have yielded astonishing results. Some issues that dogged our clients for years and took hours to resolve using TOP-TRIZ were solved in a matter of minutes when approached with AI trained on TOP-TRIZ.

   Innovator’s Engine, TOP-TRIZ Problem Formulator and Solver Software

   The software guides users through all steps of TOP-TRIZ Problem Formulation, solving conflicts, building sufficient functions, harmful action elimination and revealing the causes of a failure. The software states subsequent problems and offers corresponding methods to solve them. Having the same steps and terminology as the TOP-TRIZ training materials, it also helps its users to learn TOP-TRIZ. The software is very effective for facilitation of teams even if they’re not familiar with TOP-TRIZ.

   TOP-TRIZ methodology guides you through your project by helping you formulate an exhaustive set of problems related to your system, the current issue and your objectives. It then leads you to develop a comprehensive set of the best solutions. These solutions serve as the foundation for selecting the most ideal solutions for immediate, near-term and long-term implementation. By having an exhaustive set of commercially applicable solutions, you create a strong basis for reliable patent protection, securing your business's innovation for years to come.

   TOP-TRIZ methodology offers significant advantages for systematic innovation, helping to develop better products and processes at a lower cost and in less time, all while remaining user-friendly. It enables faster generation of elegant and valuable solutions to even the most challenging design and manufacturing problems, accelerating projects and saving substantial man-hours and money.

   References

   1. Altshuller, Genrich, And Suddenly the Inventor Appeared: TRIZ, the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving. Translated by Lev Shulyak. Worchester, Massachusetts, Technical Innovation Center, Inc., 1996. Page 14.
   2. “Application of TRIZ in Value Management and Quality Improvement” at Society of American Value Engineers International Conference in 1993 and published in its 1993 SAVE Proceeding, pages 94-101.  It can be found also at https://www.trizconsulting.com/TRIZApplicationinValueManagement.pdf
   3. Tools of Classical TRIZ. Southfield, Mich., Ideation International, Inc., 1999.
   4. Royzen, Zinovy, Tool, Object, Product (TOP) Function Analysis, TRIZCON99, The First Symposium on TRIZ Methodology and Application of Altshuller Institute for TRIZ Studies, March 7-9, 1999, Novi, Mich., Pages 17-30.
   5. Royzen, Zinovy, Designing and Manufacturing Better Products Faster Using TRIZ, Seattle, Wash., TRIZ Consulting, Inc., 2024.

   About the Author

   Zinovy Royzen | President, TRIZ Consulting, Inc.

   Zinovy Royzen, president of TRIZ Consulting, Inc., Seattle, is a TRIZ Master. He holds an M.S. in mechanical engineering and has led TRIZ training and provided facilitation at companies and organizations across industries, including Boeing, Bridgestone, Dexcom, Eastman Kodak, Ford Motor Company, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Hewlett-Packard, Illinois Tool Works, Inficon, Ingersoll Rand, Kimberly-Clark, LG Electronics, Lucent Technologies, Michelin, National Semiconductor, NASA, Philips, Plug Power, Rolls-Royce, Samsung, Siemens, Western Digital and Xerox.

   Center, Inc., 1996. Page 14.
3. “Application of TRIZ in Value Management and Quality Improvement” at Society of American Value Engineers International Conference in 1993 and published in its 1993 SAVE Proceeding, pages 94-101.  It can be found also at https://www.trizconsulting.com/TRIZApplicationinValueManagement.pdf
4. Tools of Classical TRIZ. Southfield, Mich., Ideation International, Inc., 1999.
5. Royzen, Zinovy, Tool, Object, Product (TOP) Function Analysis, TRIZCON99, The First Symposium on TRIZ Methodology and Application of Altshuller Institute for TRIZ Studies, March 7-9, 1999, Novi, Mich., Pages 17-30.
6. Royzen, Zinovy, Designing and Manufacturing Better Products Faster Using TRIZ, Seattle, Wash., TRIZ Consulting, Inc., 2024.

About the Author

 

Zinovy Royzen | President, TRIZ Consulting, Inc.

Zinovy Royzen, president of TRIZ Consulting, Inc., Seattle, is a TRIZ Master. He holds an M.S. in mechanical engineering and has led TRIZ training and provided facilitation at companies and organizations across industries, including Boeing, Bridgestone, Dexcom, Eastman Kodak, Ford Motor Company, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Hewlett-Packard, Illinois Tool Works, Inficon, Ingersoll Rand, Kimberly-Clark, LG Electronics, Lucent Technologies, Michelin, National Semiconductor, NASA, Philips, Plug Power, Rolls-Royce, Samsung, Siemens, Western Digital and Xerox.

Details

Category: Inside TRIZ

After Uproar, Google Revives AI-Generated Images Of People, With Limits                           

NurPhoto via Getty Images

 Leslie Katz                                        

 Senior Contributor

Aug 29, 2024

Some Google Gemini users will soon be able to create AI-generated people again. 

Google is reinstating a Gemini feature that lets users create AI-generated images of people after suspending the capability earlier this year amid criticism it produced misleading and historically inaccurate depictions.

The company announced in a blog post on Wednesday that in the days to come, the ability to create images of people from within the company’s Gemini suite of AI models will return to Gemini Advanced, Business, and Enterprise customers. Like other image-generation tools such as Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and OpenAI’s Dall-E, Google’s Imagen 3 lets users instantly turn typed or spoken text prompts into visual representations.

“We’ve worked to make technical improvements to the product, as well as improved evaluation sets, red-teaming exercises, and clear product principles,” reads the post from Dave Citron, senior director of product management for Gemini Experiences. Red teaming means simulating harmful behavior to spot and correct product vulnerabilities.

Two weeks after Google launched Gemini in February, the company paused some image-generation features when critics—most notably tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who’s working on rival AI products—accused the tool of being “woke” for producing images of people who didn’t align with the historical ethnic and gender realities of the times they represented. One controversial photo, for example, depicted Black men and women wearing World War II-era German military uniforms, while another showed a female pope.

Such images quickly went viral, and Jack Krawczyk, a Google AI product lead who on social media often welcomed user input on the company’s offerings, reduced his public online presence after being harassed over the issue.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and its Google subsidiary sent an internal memo to employees saying the image issues “have offended our users and shown bias.” He added, “to be clear, that’s completely unacceptable and we got it wrong.” Google’s stock value fell as the company rushed to respond to the controversy.

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Humans Created By Imagen, The Sequel

Now, almost seven months later, the capability to turn prompts into images of people is back, at least for some users, starting in English.re

“With Imagen 3, we’ve made significant progress in providing a better user experience when generating images of people,” the blog reads.

The post includes several examples of images generated by Imagen, but none of them involve humans. Instead, one shows an image produced by the cute, non-controversial prompt “tiny dragon hatching from an egg in a sunlit meadow, surrounded by curious glowing butterflies.” Another shows a photorealistic image of a mountain vista.

People, Yes. Minors Or Sexual Images, No

The tool, however, “will not support” the generation of photorealistic, identifiable people, the post indicated. Nor will it support depictions of minors or excessively gory, violent, or sexual images. A Google spokesperson clarified in an email that “will not support” means the tool won’t create such images when prompted to do so.

“We design our systems not to create offensive content in the first place and we have additional checks on output,” the spokesperson said. “While certain prompts might test these safeguards, and the results may not always be perfect, we’ve made significant progress in ensuring a more responsible and aligned user experience when generating images of people.”

Leslie Katz

Follow -- Journalist Leslie Katz, a Forbes contributor since October 2023, covers science and consumer technology, often focusing on how they overlap with art.

 

 

 

TRIZ Application: Making a more Ideal system by using waste as a resource, Principle #25 - Self-service, and Principle #24 using tungsten as a mediator.

Details

Category: Inside TRIZ

Wood waste turned catalyst 

could unlock affordable green hydrogen from ocean

Thanks to its three-dimensional porous structure, derived from wood-waste carbon, the electrode boasts a large surface area that promotes efficient reactions and charge transfer.

 Updated: Aug 14, 2024

Aman Tripathi

 (Representative image) iStock  

The electrode's structure evolves during oxygen evolution, forming an anti-corrosive layer and boosting stability. 

Scientists have achieved a significant breakthrough in the production of green hydrogen. 

They have created a novel kind of electrode, named the W-NiFeS/WC (W-doped nickel-iron (NiFe) sulfide/Wood-based carbon) electrode, which performs significantly well in seawater electrolysis.

Electrolysis is the process of splitting seawater into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity, and the latest development could revolutionize this process, giving a significant boost to sustainable energy.

Australia Is Generating Too Much Solar Power

This research, published in the journal Science Bulletin, tackles the challenges of seawater electrolysis while showcasing the potential of repurposing wood waste in electrochemical devices.

Path to decarbonization

Seawater electrolysis is seen as a promising method to reduce carbon emissions in the energy sector. It is expected to offer a clean and plentiful source of hydrogen fuel.

Despite its potential, issues such as anode corrosion, unwanted side reactions, and expensive catalysts have hindered its widespread adoption.

The W-NiFeS/WC electrode can tackle these issues. It has demonstrated superior activity and stability in both the key reactions needed for seawater electrolysis: the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).

The electrode’s performance comes from its unique structure and chemistry. Its three-dimensional porous structure, derived from wood-waste carbon, provides a large surface area for reactions and efficient charge transfer. Densely anchored W-NiFeS nanoparticles further enhance its capabilities.

“Wood-based carbon (WC) structures have gained attention as an ideal substrate for these active materials due to their hierarchical porous nature and excellent conductivity,” the researchers mentioned in the press release.

Adding tungsten to the catalyst improves its anti-corrosion properties and stability, ensuring durability in seawater.

Self-healing mechanism and efficient catalysis

During the oxygen evolution reaction, this electrode undergoes a structural change that forms anti-corrosive materials on its surface, which boosts its stability.

“Especially, the in-situ structure evolution of W-NiFeS/WC in OER generates anti-corrosive tungstate and sulfate species on the surface of active Ni/Fe oxyhydroxides,” explained Zhijie Chen, the first author of the study.

“Also, the self-evolved W-NiFeS decorated NiFeOOH can catalyze HER efficiently,” added Chen. It further supports hydrogen production.

Not only is the W-NiFeS/WC electrode effective, but it’s also affordable to produce. This makes it ideal for large-scale applications in seawater electrolysis.

This could help reduce the cost of green hydrogen, making it a competitive alternative to fossil fuels.

This research also highlights the importance of a circular economy. By turning wood waste into valuable catalysts, scientists have shown a sustainable way to produce clean energy.

Towards a greener future

The innovative use of wood-waste-derived carbon structures in the electrode design opens doors for further advancements in sustainable material science.

The development of the W-NiFeS/WC electrode is a major step towards sustainable green hydrogen production. Its strong performance, affordability, and environmental friendliness make it a promising technology for a future powered by renewable energy.

Ongoing research in this area is likely to lead to further advancements, bringing us closer to a world of clean and abundant energy for everyone.

TRIZ Application: Making a more Ideal system by using waste as a resource, Principle #25 - Self-service, and Principle #24 using tungsten as a mediator.

Details

Category: Inside TRIZ

Creating the Self-Healing Grid of the Future                                                

July 25, 2024 

Sandia National Laboratories electrical engineer Michael Ropp and his team have created a library of codes to improve the resilience, reliability, and self-healing nature of the electric grid. (Image: Craig Fritz)

It’s not hard to imagine the potential value of a self-healing grid, one able to adapt and bounce back to life, ensuring uninterrupted power even when assailed by a hurricane or a group of bad actors. Together a team from Sandia National Laboratories and New Mexico State University is making this vision possible with a cutting-edge library of algorithms. By coding these algorithms into grid relays, the system can quickly restore power to as many hospitals, grocery stores, and homes as possible before grid operators can begin repairs or provide instructions.

“The ultimate goal is to enable systems to self-heal and form ad hoc configurations when things go really bad,” said Michael Ropp, Sandia electrical engineer and the project lead. “After the system is damaged or compromised, it can automatically figure out how to get to a new steady-state that provides power to as many customers as it possibly can; that’s what we mean by ‘self-healing.’ The key is that we’re doing it entirely with local measurements, so there is no need for expensive fiber optics or human controllers.”

The electrical grid of the future, as envisioned by Ropp and many others, will have more renewable energy supplies such as rooftop solar panels and wind turbines, along with local energy storage systems such as banks of batteries. Many of these systems will be able to form microgrids — small “islands” of power around hospitals, water treatment plants, and other critical infrastructure even if the main grid is down. This Sandia project enables those microgrids to automatically heal themselves when damaged and connect with one another to share power and serve as many customers as possible.

While microgrids can increase the resiliency of the grid, they need to automatically perform certain critical functions like balancing energy production with energy consumption and reconfiguring if part of the system becomes damaged or unavailable. This self-healing capability must also be able to avoid connecting microgrids in ways that cause problems — for example, by forming an unintentional loop in the circuit.

Today, to achieve this in microgrids that use power inverters, operators must install expensive high-speed communications that can be unreliable during disasters and vulnerable to cyberattacks. The purpose of this project, Ropp said, is to support self-healing using only the measurements that each individual device can make, reducing cost while increasing reliability.

One key function that microgrids with lots of inverters need to do is to shut off a few customers when the demand for electricity becomes larger than the supply. In grids powered by natural gas, coal, or nuclear power plants, when this demand-supply imbalance occurs, the frequency of the grid drops. When the existing relay algorithms detect this, they disconnect power to portions of the grid. However, when inverters designed to power microgrids become overloaded, they stop regulating the voltage of the power supply, and the voltage drops, Ropp said. The team developed an algorithm to use this decrease in voltage to tell relays when to disconnect power to less vital customers.

During the wake of a natural disaster such as a hurricane or earthquake, hospitals assisted living facilities, and water treatment plants are especially vital and thus critical to keep powered. Banks, grocery stores, and recreation centers or schools that serve as evacuation centers are also quite important for the functioning of a community.

The team also developed algorithms that allow the system to self-assemble in ways that avoid damaged areas. They used computer-aided-design software to model a small system of three interconnected microgrids and showed how even without communications, their algorithms allowed the system to balance power production and consumption, isolate certain issues such as tree-downed lines or a damaged power plant, and work around the issue to restore power to important facilities, Ropp said.

Most of North America’s grid infrastructure was designed to have single power lines with one-way power flow to houses, offices, and other average customers. Thus, the grid is not currently designed to be stable when operated in a loop, said Ropp and Matthew Reno, another Sandia electrical engineer involved in the project. Only certain custom-designed portions of the system can operate as a loop.

Microgrids and distributed resources like rooftop solar increase overall resiliency but also allow the chance for the grid to assemble into an unstable loop. Reno said, “We were trying to come up with possible measurements to figure out if the two sides were already connected so that closing the switch would form a loop.”

The team looked at some mathematical methods a breaker could use to determine whether the portions of the grid on either side of the breaker are powered by the same power supply and determined that two such methods worked for this purpose. The researchers shared a comparison of these methods in a paper published in the scientific journal IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery.

The team is also working on a solution to a similar problem: what to do when a power line that normally is at the end of the system finds itself supporting more current than it is rated for. They’ve developed a Morse-code-like method where an overloaded line relay modulates the voltage by opening and closing in a specific pattern, so the relays for lower-priority customers can detect this pattern and disconnect themselves until the line is no longer overloaded, Ropp said. While this could be considered communication, it doesn’t need a separate system, which might be vulnerable to hackers, or a human operator — it uses the power line itself to transmit the signal.

The researchers have been working on ways to improve the performance of these methods. For example, they have developed a method to quickly divide the microgrid into smaller sub-microgrids when an issue is detected. The hope is that this would isolate the issue to just one sub-microgrid, allowing the others to operate normally. The team’s initial testing suggests that this method of defining microgrid boundary points works sometimes, but not all the time, so there is more work to do.

Ropp and the team would like to work with manufacturers of line and load relays to incorporate their library of algorithms into the companies’ products, first to test them in a hardware-in-the-loop testbed and then possibly in real life at test facilities such as Sandia’s Distributed Energy Technologies Laboratory or at a similar medium-voltage facility at New Mexico State University, Lavrova said.

“We want this to become something that people can really use, especially low-income communities that can’t afford fiber optic communications at every single point on every single electrical circuit,” Ropp said. “You can get very good performance and very good resilience using our library of algorithms. And if you do have the communications, this can still be a backup.”

TRIZ: Using the concept of Ideal Final Result the managers are setting a goal that would optimize the performance of the energy grid.

The TRIZ principle of "self-service" to fix the grid if there is a distribution or failure problem.  

Details

Category: Inside TRIZ

Desalination Breakthrough uses the Sun, not Electricity, to Clean Seawater

The desalination process works using a channel that has a temperature gradient across it and moves salt to a cooler temperature.

Updated: May 21, 2024, 09:06 AM EST

Ameya Paleja

Representational image: A desalination plant. iStock

Researchers at the Australian National University have developed a new approach for desalinating water that does not use electricity.

The method uses solar energy and can be deployed in remote locations, even in low-income countries. 

With freshwater shortages seen in multiple parts of the globe, countries are turning to seawater and desalinating it to meet their water demands.

The World Bank estimates that as many as 300 million people in 150 countries depend on desalination for their water needs. 

However, desalination is energy intensive. In 2018, it accounted for 100 billion kilowatts of electricity consumption, a fourth of the energy spent on provisioning water. This can be attributed to techniques such as reverse osmosis, which uses high pressure to separate water or heat for evaporating water. 

A research team led by Juan Felipe Torres, a professor at the School of Engineering at ANU, has turned to solar energy to reduce energy consumption by as much as 80 percent. 

Low-grade heat for desalination

The researchers use a phenomenon called thermodiffusion, a temperature gradient to move salt from the warmer to the colder side to bring about desalination. In this process, water remains in the liquid phase, and no energy is spent turning it into vapor and cooling it back. 

In a technology demonstration, the researchers used a narrow channel for the seawater. They sandwiched it between two plates maintained at different temperatures. The top plate was heated to over 140 Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius), while the lower plate was cooled to 68 Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius). 

The channel was a little over one and a half feet long, and low-salinity water emerged from the top while high-salinity water emerged from its bottom. After a single pass, cooler and saltier water was removed, and warmer and less salty water was put back into the setup.

Each pass saw the water’s salinity decrease by three percent, and using multiple cycles, the salinity decreased from 30,000 parts per million to less than 500 ppm. 

Interestingly, the heat needed to carry out the process can come directly from sunlight or even waste heat generated during industrial processes. 

Solving desalination problems

Conventional desalination approaches can consume up to 100 kWh of electricity for every cubic meter of clean water generated. The process is energy-intensive and requires expensive materials, such as membranes that are high maintenance and prone to corrosion. 

Desalination plants are energy and maintenance-intensive, making them economically unfeasible for low-income countries.

“Thermodiffusive desalination is the first thermal desalination method that does not require a phase change,” said Torres in a press release. “It’s operated entirely in the liquid phase, and what’s more important is that it does not require membranes or other types of ion-adsorbing materials to purify water.”

The lack of membranes makes thermodiffusive desalination ideal for deployment on a large scale. The researchers are now building a multichannel device to be used on the Tonga island facing a severe drought.

The device will be powered by a solar panel, no bigger than a human face. 

“Our dream is to enable a paradigm shift in desalination technology, based on methods that can be driven by low-temperature heat in our surrounding environment,” Torres told Tech Xplore.  

TRIZ:  Making the system more IDEAL by not using expensive electricity and trimming other elements like filters and membranes. Changing the one pass into multiple passes simplifies the process and promotes principle #20, continuous action. This process exemplifies using FREE and readily available resources (the sun).

Details

Category: Inside TRIZ

Fits into home joist spaces

By ES Magazine Staff

March 20, 2024

The Midea IN cassette is a breakthrough in heat pump technology given its built-in design, blend-in style, and energy efficiency. The IN cassette is ready to fit into home joist spaces, making it an ideal option for new homes, add-ons, and conversions at a later date. Users can precisely heat and cool the needed spaces and spots throughout their homes – its industry-exclusive compact size of 50.3" W x 13.19" D x 9" H means it can fit just about anywhere.

With the hang-up installation, hangers with optimized anti-cutting design are easy to grab and lift, preventing hands from scratching by the sharp edge. The push-in installation technology contains a unique and exclusive screw-in design for easy installation options. Installers can plug in the IN-cassette unit between the joist and fix it on the beams with screws. 

There is no more climbing up and down, as the elevation panel itself can lower and raise. By activating the elevation panel function on the remote, or smart controller, the panel will go straight down to you for easy filter access. The built-in water pump can discharge the condensed water, so there’s no need to add an extra water pump to the side of the unit.

With high energy efficiency (up to 18.4 SEER2), cold climate performance (capable of 100% heat output down to -4 degrees Fahrenheit), and compatibility (able to mix and match with existing ducted and ductless equipment), Midea is working to make heat pump technology mainstream in American homes.

TRIZ influence in everyday new designs: Evolution #6 - scaling up or down. The unit has been made smaller to fit into the recessed of the joist space.  

Principle #13 - do it in reverse.  The unit can be moved down for easy adjustments. The service person does not have to climb to the unit.

Principle #12 - equipotentiality. The unit can be moved for easy access to work.

Principle #7 – Nesting.  Using the resource of spaces that are not used in housing construction.

Details

Category: Inside TRIZ

The First Battery Prototype Using Hemoglobin     

by Andrew Corselli                                   February 2024

A team at the University of Cordoba has developed a battery that uses hemoglobin as an electrochemical reaction facilitator, functioning for around 20-30 days.

“Our hemoglobin-based zinc-air battery has similar working conditions to the human body. Because of that, we consider that is an appropriate battery for any electronic devices integrated into the human body,” said Lead Author Manuel Cano Luna. (Image: The researchers)

Hemoglobin is a protein present in red blood cells and is responsible for conveying oxygen from the lungs to the different tissues of the body (and then transferring carbon dioxide the other way around). It has a very high affinity for oxygen and is fundamental for life, but, what if it were also a key element for a type of electrochemical device in which oxygen also plays an important role, such as zinc-air batteries?

This is what the Physical Chemistry (FQM-204) and Inorganic Chemistry (FQM-175) groups at the University of Córdoba (UCO) wanted to verify and develop, together with a team from the Polytechnic University of Cartagena, after a study by the University of Oxford and a Final Degree Project at the UCO demonstrated that hemoglobin featured promising properties for the reduction and oxidation (redox) process by which energy is generated in this type of system. Thus, the research team developed, through a Proof-of-Concept project, the first biocompatible battery (which is not harmful to the body) using hemoglobin in the electrochemical reaction that transforms chemical energy into electrical energy.

Using zinc-air batteries, one of the most sustainable alternatives to those that currently dominate the market (Li-ion batteries), hemoglobin would function as a catalyst in such batteries. That is, it is a protein that is responsible for facilitating the electrochemical reaction, called the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR), causing, after the air enters the battery, oxygen to be reduced and transformed into water in one of the parts of the battery (the cathode or positive pole), releasing electrons that pass to the other part of the battery (the anode or negative pole), where zinc oxidation occurs.

"To be a good catalyst in the oxygen reduction reaction, the catalyst has to have two properties: it needs to quickly absorb oxygen molecules, and form water molecules relatively easily,” said Lead Author Manuel Cano Luna. “And hemoglobin met those requirements." In fact, through this process, the team managed to get their prototype biocompatible battery to work with 0.165 milligrams of hemoglobin for between 20 and 30 days.

In addition to strong performance, the battery prototype they have developed boasts other advantages. First, zinc-air batteries are more sustainable and can withstand adverse atmospheric conditions, unlike other batteries affected by humidity and requiring an inert atmosphere for their manufacture. Secondly, as Cano Luna noted, "The use of hemoglobin as a biocompatible catalyst is quite promising as regards the use of this type of battery in devices that are integrated into the human body," — e.g., pacemakers. The battery operates at pH 7.4, which is a pH similar to that of blood. In addition, since hemoglobin is present in almost all mammals, proteins of animal origin could also be used.

The research team of the University of Cordoba. (Image: University of Cordoba)

The battery they have developed has some room for improvement, however. The main one is that it is a primary battery, so it only discharges electrical energy. Also, it is not rechargeable. Therefore, the team is already taking the next steps to find another biological protein that can transform water into oxygen and, thus, recharge the battery. In addition, the batteries would only work in the presence of oxygen, so they could not be used in space.

Here is an exclusive Tech Briefs interview — edited for length and clarity — with Cano Luna.

Tech Briefs: What made you choose hemoglobin? How did you decide on that?

Cano Luna: We were inspired by a research paper that reported the electrocatalytic properties of Hemoglobin (Hb) for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR).

It should be noted that ORR is a key cathodic reaction produced in hydrogen fuel cells and in zinc-air batteries (two important electrochemical devices for energy storage and conversion).

Tech Briefs: What was the biggest technical challenge you faced while developing this battery technology?

Cano Luna: Our major challenge was choosing the best combination of Hb and Nafion, in terms of long-term stability. Hb protein is very soluble in water. Therefore, to keep this protein on the surface of the air electrode, it was necessary to use Nafion.

Basically, Nafion ionomer is a polymer, that acts like a membrane, thus avoiding the loss of Hb from the electrode surface.

Tech Briefs: Can you explain in simple terms how it works?

Cano Luna: Hb acts as an electrocatalyst in the cathodic reaction, adsorbing O₂ from the air and reducing this O₂ to H₂O (ORR) with a four-electron pathway (i.e. performing both actions efficiently).

ORR on a bare working electrode typically leads to the formation of hydrogen peroxide, which involves a two-electron transfer: O₂ + 2H⁺ + 2e^- ® H₂O_2.

While a Hb-modified working electrode allows a four-electron conversion to water (i.e. the desirable one): O₂ + 4H⁺ + 4e^- ® H₂O.

Tech Briefs: What are the pros and cons of using hemoglobin batteries?

Cano Luna: Main advantage: The use of a biological protein as an ORR catalyst and an aqueous electrolyte solution at a neutral pH of 7.4 (i.e. physiological conditions) makes zinc-air batteries much more biocompatible, less dangerous, and more environmentally friendly.

Related Articles

Fundamental EV Battery Models Explain New Tab Design

Internal Short Circuit (ISC) Device Helps Improve Li-ion Battery Design

Main disadvantage: The use of a biological molecule as an electrocatalyst limits the working conditions of this energy storage device, causing it to be not useful in extreme conditions (e.g. high temperature causes protein denaturation).

Tech Briefs: The article says, “The team is already taking the next steps to find another biological protein that can transform water into oxygen and, thus, recharge the battery.” How is that coming along? Any updates you can share?

Cano Luna: Currently, we are testing several proteins as possible electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER). Once we choose the best candidate, the next step will be to identify a perfect combination with Hb, aiming for a “synergistic effect” between both proteins. OER is the reaction for charging the zinc-air battery: 2H₂O ® O₂ + 4H⁺ + 4e^-.

Tech Briefs: What are your next steps? Any other future research/work/etc. on the horizon?

Cano Luna: Our current efforts are focused on making this battery rechargeable, using only biological molecules as electrocatalysts. We consider that as a new research line in the field of zinc-air battery

Details

Category: Inside TRIZ