Lecture
One of the prerequisites of TRIZ is that there are objective laws of the development and operation of systems, based on which you can build inventive solutions. In other words, many technical, production, economic and social systems develop according to the same rules and principles. G.S. Altshuller discovered them by examining the patent fund and analyzing the ways of development and improvement of technology over time. The results published in the books “Lines of life” of technical systems ”and“ On the laws of technical systems development ”, later combined in the work“ Creativity as an exact science ”, became the basis for the Theory of Technical Systems Development (TRTS).
In this lesson we suggest you to get acquainted with these laws, supported by examples. In the TRIZ training program, they occupy the main place, since they are disclosed and detailed in the rules of their application, in standards, principles of conflict resolution, field analysis and ARIZ.
Content
The law of development of a technical system (ЗРТС) is a significant, stable, repetitive relationship between elements within the system and with the external environment in the process of progressive development, the transition of the system from one state to another in order to increase its useful functionality.
G.S. Altshuller divided open laws into three sections: “Statics”, “Kinematics”, “Dynamics”. These names are conditional and not directly related to physics. But one can trace the connection of these groups with the “beginning of life-development-death” model in accordance with the S-shaped law of technical systems development, which the author suggested for a complete picture of the evolution of processes in engineering. It is depicted as a logistic curve that shows the pace of development changing over time. Stages three:
1. "Childhood." Specifically, the technique is a long process of designing a system, its refinement, prototype manufacturing, preparation for serial production. In the global sense, the stage is associated with the laws of "Statics" - a group united by criteria of viability of emerging technical systems (TS). In simple terms, thanks to these laws, two questions can be answered: Will the system being created live and function? What needs to be done in order for it to live and function?
2. "Flourishing". The stage of rapid improvement of the system, its formation as a powerful and productive unit. It is associated with the following group of laws - “Kinematics”, which describes the directions of development of technical systems, regardless of specific technical and physical mechanisms. In the literal sense, this means those changes that must occur in the system in order for it to meet its increasing requirements.
3. "Old age". At some point, the development of the system slows down, and later stops altogether. This is due to the laws of "Dynamics", characterizing the development of the vehicle in terms of specific technical and physical factors. “Dynamics” is opposite to “Kinematics” - the laws of this group determine only possible changes that can be made in these conditions. When the opportunities for improvement are exhausted, the new system replaces the new one, and the whole cycle repeats.
The laws of the first two groups - “Statics” and “Kinematics” - are universal in nature. They operate in any epoch and are applicable not only to technical systems, but also to biological, social, etc. “Dynamics”, according to Altshuller, speaks about the main trends in the functioning of systems in our time.
As an example of the operation of a complex of these laws in engineering, we can recall the development of a technical system such as a rowing fleet. She passed the formation of small boats with a pair of oars to large warships, where hundreds of oars were located in several rows, giving way to sailing ships as a result. Socially and historically, the birth, prosperity and decline of Athenian democracy can serve as an example of an S-shaped system.
The laws of "Statics" in TRIZ determine the initial stage of the functioning of the technical system, the beginning of its "life", determining the necessary conditions for this. The category “system” itself tells us about the whole, made up of parts. A technical system, like any other, begins its life as a result of the synthesis of individual components. But not every such association provides a viable vehicle. The laws of the "Static" group just show what mandatory conditions must be met for a successful system to work.
Law 1. The law of completeness of parts of the system. A necessary condition for the fundamental viability of a technical system is the presence and minimum operability of the main parts of the system.
There are four main parts: engine, transmission, working body and control body. To ensure the viability of the system, not only these parts are necessary, but also their suitability for performing the functions of a vehicle. In other words, these components must be operable not only individually, but also in the system. A classic example is an internal combustion engine that works by itself, functions in such a vehicle as a passenger car, but is not suitable for use in a submarine.
From the law of completeness of the parts of the system, the conclusion follows: for the system to be controlled, it is necessary that at least one part of it is controlled. Manageability means the ability to change properties depending on the intended tasks. This consequence is well illustrated by an example from the book “The System of Laws of Technological Development” by Yu. P. Salamatov: a balloon, which can be controlled using a valve and ballast.
A similar law was formulated in 1840 by J. von Liebig for biological systems.
Law 2. The law of "energy conductivity" of the system. A necessary condition for the fundamental viability of a technical system is the through passage of energy through all parts of the system.
Any technical system is an energy converter. Hence the obvious need to transfer energy from the engine through the transmission to the working body. If some part of the vehicle does not receive energy, then the whole system will not work. The main condition for the efficiency of the technical system in terms of energy conductivity is the equality of the capabilities of the parts of the system to receive and transmit energy.
From the law of "energy conductivity" the conclusion follows: in order for a part of the technical system to be managed, it is necessary to provide energy conductivity between this part and the governing bodies. This statics law is also the basis for the definition of 3 rules for the system's electrical conductivity:
Law 3. The law of harmonization of the rhythms of parts of the system. A necessary condition for the basic viability of a technical system is the coordination of the rhythms (oscillation frequency, frequency) of all parts of the system.
The theory of TRIZ A.V. Trigub is sure that in order to eliminate harmful phenomena or enhance the useful properties of a technical system, it is necessary to coordinate or mismatch the vibration frequencies of all subsystems in the technical system and external systems. Simply put, for the viability of the system, it is important that the individual parts not only work together, but also do not interfere with each other to perform a useful function.
This law is traced by the example of the creation of the installation for crushing kidney stones. This unit crushes the stones with a targeted ultrasound beam so that they can be removed in a natural way later. But initially for the destruction of the stone required a large power of ultrasound, which affected not only them, but also the surrounding tissue. The decision came after the ultrasound frequency was matched with the frequency of oscillation of the stones. This caused a resonance, which destroyed the stones, thanks to which the power of the beam was reduced.
The group of laws of TRIZ "Kinematics" deals with already established systems that are in the process of their formation. The condition, as mentioned above, lies in the fact that these laws determine the development of the CU, regardless of the specific technical and physical factors that determine it.
Law 4. The law of increasing the degree of ideality of the system. The development of all systems goes towards increasing the degree of ideality.
In the classical sense, an ideal system is a system, weight, volume, the area of which tends to zero, although its ability to perform work does not decrease. In other words, this is when there is no system, and its function is preserved and executed. All vehicles strive for perfection, but very few ideal ones. A sample can serve as rafting a forest with rafts, when the ship is not required for transportation, and the delivery function is performed.
In practice, you can find many examples of confirmation of this law. The ultimate case of idealization of technology is to reduce it (even to disappear), while simultaneously increasing the number of functions performed by it. For example, the first trains were more than now, and passengers and cargo were transported less. In the future, the dimensions decreased, the capacity increased, due to which it became possible to transport large volumes of cargo and increase passenger traffic, which led to a decrease in the cost of transportation itself.
Law 5. The law of uneven development of parts of the system. The development of parts of the system is uneven; the more complex the system, the uneven development of its parts.
Uneven development of parts of the system is the cause of technical and physical contradictions, and, therefore, inventive problems. The consequence of this law is that sooner or later a change in one component of the vehicle will provoke a chain reaction of technical solutions that will lead to a change in the remaining parts. The law is confirmed in thermodynamics. Thus, in accordance with the Onsager principle: the driving force of any process is the appearance of heterogeneity in the system. Much earlier than in TRIZ, this law was described in biology: “In the course of progressive evolution, the mutual adaptation of organs increases, coordination of changes in parts of the body takes place and correlations of general significance are accumulated.”
An excellent illustration of the fairness of the law is the development of automotive technology. The first engines provided a relatively low speed of 15-20 km / h by today's standards. Installing more powerful engines increased speed, which eventually caused the wheels to be replaced with wider ones, bodywork made from more durable materials, etc.
Law 6. The law of advanced development of the working body. It is desirable that the working body is ahead in its development of the rest of the system, that is, it has a greater degree of dynamization in substance, energy or organization.
Some researchers distinguish this law as a separate one, but many works derive it in combination with the law of uneven development of parts of the system. Such an approach seems to us more organic, and we take out an individual bloc for this law only for greater structure and clarity.
The significance of this law is that it points to a common mistake when, in order to increase the usefulness of an invention, it is not any other body that develops, but a managerial one (transmission). A specific case is that in order to create a multifunctional gaming smartphone, you need not only to make it comfortable to hold in your hand and equip with a large display, but, first of all, to take care of a powerful processor.
Law 7. The law of dynamization. Rigid systems to increase efficiency should become dynamic, that is, move to a more flexible, rapidly changing structure and to the mode of operation, adapting to changes in the external environment.
This law is universal and finds its reflection in many areas. The degree of dynamization - the ability of the system to adapt to the external environment - is not only technical systems. At one time biological species that came out of water onto land passed through such an adaptation. Social systems are also changing: more and more companies practice remote work instead of office work, and many workers prefer freelancing.
Examples of technology, confirming this law, as well. For a couple of decades, mobile phones have changed their appearance. Moreover, the changes were not only quantitative (decrease in size), but also qualitative (increase in functionality, up to the transition to the super-system - tablet phones). The first “Gilette” razors had a fixed head, which later became more comfortable moving. Another example: in the 30s. in the USSR, the fast BT-5 tanks were produced, which were moving off-road on caterpillars, and after leaving the road, they dropped them and went on wheels.
Law 8. The law of transition to the super-system. The development of a system that has reached its limit can be continued at the super-system level.
When the dynamization of the system is impossible, in other words, when the TS has completely exhausted its possibilities and there are no further ways of its development, the system goes into the super-system (NN). In it she works as one of the parts; at the same time, further development is already taking place at the super-system level. The transition does not always happen and the vehicle may be dead, as, for example, it happened with the stone tools of labor of the first people. The system may not go to the National Assembly, but remain in a state where it cannot be substantially improved, but remain viable due to the need for it to people. An example of such a technical system is the bicycle.
A variant of the transition of the system to the super-system can be the creation of bi-and polysystems. It is also called the law of transition "mono - bi - poly". Such systems are more reliable and functional, thanks to the qualities acquired as a result of synthesis. After passing through the stages of bi- and poly-, the contraction occurs - either the system is eliminated (stone ax), since it has already served its own, or its transition to the super-system. The classic example of manifestation: a pencil (monosystem) - a pencil with an eraser at the end (bisystem) - multi-colored pencils (polysystem) - a pencil with a compass or a pen (folding). Or a razor: with one blade - with two - with three or more - a razor with vibration.
This law is not only a general law of the development of systems, a scheme by which everything develops, but also a law of nature, because the symbiosis of living organisms for the purpose of survival has been known from time immemorial. As confirmation: lichens (symbiosis of fungus and algae), arthropods (hermit crab and sea anemones), people (bacteria in the stomach).
"Dynamics" unites the laws of the development of the CU characteristic of our time and determines the possible changes in them in the scientific and technical conditions of modernity.
Law 9. The law of transition from the macro level to the micro level. The development of the working bodies of the system is first at the macro and then at the micro level.
The bottom line is that any TS to develop its useful functionality tends to move from the macro level to the micro level. In other words, the systems observe the tendency of the function of the working body to transfer from the wheels, gears, shafts, etc., to molecules, atoms, ions, which are easily controlled by fields. This is one of the main trends in the development of all modern technical systems.
The concepts of “macro level” and “micro level” are rather conditional in this respect and are designed to show the levels of human thinking, where the first level is something physically commensurate, and the second is understandable. In the life of any vehicle, there comes a time when further extensive (increase in useful function due to changes at the macro level) development is impossible. Further, the system can be developed only intensively, by increasing the organization of all lower systemic levels of the substance.
In technology, the transition between macro and micro levels is well demonstrated by the evolution of a building material - a brick. At first it was just the organization of the clay form for convenience. But once a man forgot a brick for a couple of hours in the sun, and when he remembered it, he hardened, which made it more reliable and practical. But over time, it was noticed that such material is poorly kept warm. A new invention was made - now a large number of air capillaries were left in the brick - micropolos, which significantly reduced its thermal conductivity.
Law 10. The law of increasing the degree of vepolnost. The development of technical systems is in the direction of increasing the degree of vepolnosti.
G.S. Altshuller wrote: “The meaning of this law is that non-non-field systems tend to become vepol and in vepol systems, development goes towards the transition from mechanical to electromagnetic fields; increasing the degree of dispersion of substances, the number of connections between the elements and the responsiveness of the system ".
Vepol - (substance + field) - model of interaction in the minimum technical system. This is an abstract concept used in TRIZ to describe some kind of relationship. Under vepolnostyu is understandable handling. Literally, the law describes vepolnost as a sequence of changes in the structure and elements of vepoli in order to obtain more manageable technical systems, i.e. more ideal systems. At the same time in the process of change it is necessary to carry out the coordination of substances, fields and structure. An example would be diffusion welding and a laser for cutting various materials.
In conclusion, we note that only the laws described in the literature are collected here, while TRIZ theorists speak of the existence of others, which are yet to be discovered and formulated.
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Theory of Inventive Problem Solving
Terms: Theory of Inventive Problem Solving