WHAT IS “TRIZ” ? A Russian acronym: Theoria Resheneyva Isobretatelskehuh Zadach (Theory of Solving Problems Inventively)

OBJECTIVES Familiarize you with the basic concepts of TRIZ Change the way you think about problems Help your team develop more ideas faster Help your team develop their own original solutions

WHAT IS “TRIZ” ? General Solutions General Problem Broader context General Problem Specific Problem Solution to Specific Problem General Solutions 3 2 Abstraction 1 Analogy 4

This is what the process looks like in practice Define the problem Generalize it / Characterize it Look for generalized solution/approach 2 key tables in TRIZ Make it your own

Where did TRIZ come from? Massachusetts Institute of Technology - ESD34

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - ESD34

BASIC CONCEPTS

Key Terms SYSTEMS evolve toward IDEALITY irreversibly Resolving CONTRADICTIONS as they evolve PATTERNS OF INVENTION are recognized and used Somebody, sometime, somewhere has already solved your problem or one similar to it. Creativity in this context means finding that solution and adapting it to the current problem.

What is a SYSTEM? Anything that performs a function is a technical system: Drive system Control system Flag raising system – from block party Block harvester – from block party Can you think of any?

Law of Ideality – for any system Systems tend to become more reliable, simple, effective — more ideal over time. Every improvement moves a system closer to Ideal It costs less requires less space wastes less energy, etc. We can typically judge how inventive/Ideal something is The further it is from Ideal, the more complex it will be — and visa versa Massachusetts Institute of Technology - ESD34

“I want to improve the robots reach” For example: “I want to improve the robots reach” “when I increase the length to improve reach, it gets heavier” This is a contradiction TRIZ can help to resolve Massachusetts Institute of Technology - ESD34

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - ESD34

How to Use It

The Three Steps Analyze the technical system Determine the elements of the technical system Identify the origin of the problem Identify the characteristics that need to be improved State a technical contradiction Which characteristic needs to be improved? Which characteristic will get worse as a result? Resolve the technical contradiction using the TRIZ principles This is the hardest part Massachusetts Institute of Technology - ESD34

Two options for changing a characteristic or resolving a contradiction Improve an already existing positive characteristic Example: Increase the speed of a boat(the technical system) from 10 knots to 30 knots Eliminate(neutralize) a negative characteristic. A system may produce a useful function while at the same time generate a harmful action. Example: Eliminate motor noise produced by increased boat speed Massachusetts Institute of Technology - ESD34

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - ESD34

Step 1 – Analyze System (example from Ring It Up) Determine the elements of the technical system Identify the characteristics that need to be improved Robot lifter Score during end game frame motor Support robots Provide power Describe how the technical system works Lift alliance partner 16” 39 - productivity

Step 2 – State Contradiction Decide which option to use Increase a positive characteristic Decrease a negative characteristic 39 - productivity Which characteristic needs to be improved? 2 - weight Adding robot lifting capability Which characteristic will get worse as a result? increases weight Formulate a Technical Contradiction

Two paths for resolving a technical contradiction: Step 3 – Resolve the Contradiction Two paths for resolving a technical contradiction: Use the contradiction matrix to locate the most the most effective principles 2. Read every principle and choose the most appropriate one Massachusetts Institute of Technology - ESD34

Step 3 – Contradiction Matrix 1 This tells you what principles to look up 2

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - ESD34

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - ESD34

Examples of how our team has used TRIZ

Coming up with the contradiction 2012/2013 “Ring it Up” (improving an already existing characteristic) Coming up with the contradiction Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

Finding an applicable principle 2012/2013 “Ring it Up” (improving an already existing characteristic) Finding an applicable principle

Divide an object into elements - capable of changing position relative to one another Robot lifter “suitcase” Vertical position Hinged Horizontal position Lifter fully extended

Coming up with the contradiction 2013/2014 “Block Party” (eliminate a negative characteristic) Coming up with the contradiction Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

Finding an applicable principle 2013/2014 “Block Party” (eliminate a negative characteristic) Finding an applicable principle

Lifting bar we present to partner Nesting – one object is placed inside another most robots can lift themselves, but cannot occupy the same space under the bar on the ramp Nested until end game SODA bar Provides a pull-up or lift from bar from our robot to alliance partner Nested inside our robots lifting device Automatically deploys when lifter pulls on bar extended Lifting bar on ramp Lifting bar we present to partner

Lamborghini shock is horizontal From Cascade Effect Why – Pushrod Suspension? Normal shocks are too tall and are vertical, makes treadpods much too tall Normal vertical Lamborghini shock is horizontal With pushrod suspension shock lays down horizontal Now shock can fit inside of the treadpod TOD II

FTC TEAM Get here faster! Today! Length of season

References Textbook used: Other useful links: Genrich Altshuller. “40 Principles, TRIZ Keys to Technical Innovation,” Technical Innovation Center, Inc. http://www.amazon.com/40-Principles-Innovation-Extended-Edition/dp/0964074052/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409656908&sr=8-1&keywords=40+principles Other useful links: http://www.triz.org http://www.triz40.com/ http://www.opensourcetriz.com/