TRIZ & BiomimeticsTRIZ & BiomimeticsMinding Ethics & Sustainability when Creating Innovations

Austrian TRIZ Conference | Mi, 18.11.2009

About Elke Barbara Bachler (EBB)About Elke Barbara Bachler (EBB)

krea Widerspruch (Contradiction)EvolutionResourcesFunctionTactic

EBBChemical Engineer

MotherWebDesigner

Innovation ManagerDevil‘s Advocate

BAC ThesesThe Evolution of Innovation

The Innovative Mind

kreaWERFT.com

Innovation in Nature & in BusinessInnovation in Nature & in Business

Business & Technology Idea (creativity, constraints, memetics)

+ Potential & Demand (resources, technology, market) = Innovation aka new & economically successful idea

Nature Reproduction is a faulty copying process (genetics)

+ Natural Selection (fit = perfectly adapted)= Innovation aka new & viable species

Differences & SimilaritiesDifferences & Similarities

TRIZ (TIPS) Algorithm

AbstractionAnalogy

Inventions / Patents

Ideality Contradiction Resources Function Systematic

Biomimetics Algorithm

AbstractionAnalogy

Nature / Open Source

Fitness Try & Error Resources Function & Form Systemic

Ideality & FitnessIdeality & FitnessIdeality in nature a matter of fitness

Ideality Prognosis vs. Adaptive FitnessIdeality Prognosis vs. Adaptive Fitness

Biological examples support TRIZ Trends & Principles (surface segmentation, asymmetry, volumetric geometry et al.)

© whalepower.com

© whalepower.com

© Barbara Thomas | pixelio.de

Ideality Prognosis vs. Adaptive FitnessIdeality Prognosis vs. Adaptive Fitness

TRIZ Trend volumetric segmentation high rigidity & low weight.

This is important for birds, for big mammals like horses the hollow bone is still fit.

Both bone types offer/use active elements.

© Dorling Kindersley Verlag

© Alulight®

Solid Hollow Multi Porous Active

Ideality Prognosis vs. Adaptive FitnessIdeality Prognosis vs. Adaptive Fitness

There are many examples for TRIZ Trends & Principles to be found in nature.

Proposal TRIZ Trends don‘t have to be contemplated merely in an unidirectional-progressive way if it‘s about fitness.

There is no real IFR (Ideal Final Result) in nature. The ability to adept ensures survival in a changing system.

Proposal Define an IFR consciously for different systems (open innovation approach).

Try & ErrorTry & Error… contradictory to effectiveness and efficiency?

Try & Error as Systematical MethodTry & Error as Systematical Method

How to optimize the degree of efficiency when mathematical calculations don‘t work …

Still fascinating: The two-phase-supersonic-injector by Hans-Paul Schwefel in 1968

Recombination of slices mutation & selection optimal degree of efficency

Source: „Das grosse Buch der Bionik“ by Werner Nachtigall and Kurt G. Bluechel

Try & Error … time is most significant.Try & Error … time is most significant.

The way we learn is based on Try & Error. It‘s intrinsic. Therefore it shouldn‘t be regarded as maleficent, but be allowed within certain terms.

Try & Error as a method needs systematic proceeding.

It‘s legitimate to use serendipity!

IT-supported simulations allow to use Try & Error within an acceptable time frame.

Proposal Use TRIZ in combination with simulations and scenario techniques.

ResourcesResources… identification and vigilant usage.

Principle 13 – The Other Way RoundPrinciple 13 – The Other Way Round

© Ina Fink | pixelio.de © biopowersystems.com

One of the latest biomimetical projects and how TRIZ could have supported the basic idea:

In nature the fin is used actively to move forward. The fin bioSTREAM uses the current to move the fin against the torque of a generator, producing energy.

bioSTREAM by BioPower Systems

Pilot project Australia 2010

Principle 15 – DynamizationPrinciple 15 – Dynamization

© Thomas Max Müller | pixelio.de

© biopowersystems.com

A similar approach: Plants “go with the flow“ … and that‘s what bioWAVE is mimicking, generating energy by doing so.

If the waves are too strong, bioWAVE will lay down completely. That way a light-weight construction suffices.

bioWAVE by BioPower Systems

Sustainable Usage of ResourcesSustainable Usage of Resources

TRIZ supports and fosters thinking in resources. Nature shows examples for vigilant and for predacious usage of resources … as well as the according results.

Exhaustion of resources profit maximisation cancer-like growth deadly.

Vigilant usage of resources profit optimization ability to adept & fitness sustainable.

Nature isn‘t good or bad.

Nature shows course of action

and results.

Ethics & SustainabilityEthics & Sustainability

© Siegried Bellach | pixelio.de

© Thomas Werner | pixelio.de

Ask yourself: What do you prefer? As a company, as a customer?

Clear-Cut or Win-Win?

Ethics & Sustainability & ResourcesEthics & Sustainability & Resources

Nature shows course of action and the according results. We might learn a lot by watching.

Proposal Combine the vigilant resource approach of nature with TRIZ tools in order to generate sustainable and life-affirmative (aka ethical correct) innovations.

Function & FormFunction & Form… what is good design?

Nature offers aesthetics.Nature offers aesthetics.

© Elke Barbara Bachler | pixelio.de

Not always ;) Not always ;)

© Uwe Kunze | pixelio.de

10 Design Principles by Rams10 Design Principles by Rams

Good design is innovative Good design makes a product useful Good design is aesthetic Good design helps us to understand a product Good design is unobtrusive Good design is honest Good design is durable Good design is consequent to the last detail Good design is concerned with the environment Good design is as little design as possible

Dieter Rams, German Industrial Designer, Braun

http://designapplause.com/2009/dieter-rams-10-design-principles/6791/

10 Biological Design Principles by Nachtigall10 Biological Design Principles by Nachtigall

Integrated instead of additive construction Optimization on the whole instead of maximization of

details Multifunctionality instead of monofunctionality Environmental fine-tuning Economisation instead of wastefulness Direct and indirect usage of solar energy Fine-tuning of durability Recycling instead of accumulation of waste Linking-up instead of linearity Try & Error processes

Werner Nachtigall, German Biomimetic

Source: „Das grosse Buch der Bionik“ by Werner Nachtigall and Kurt G. Bluechel

Tip: Database asknature.orgTip: Database asknature.org

Tip: Database function.creax.comTip: Database function.creax.com

Design ThinkingDesign Thinking

Nature offers not only knowledge in terms of function, but also in terms of form and aesthetics.

Mind: There are no user manuals necessary in nature!

Proposal Let “natural“ design thinking be part of your TRIZ applications.

Systematical & Systematical & systemicsystemic

… is there a difference?

TRIZ Algorithm & 9 WindowsTRIZ Algorithm & 9 Windows

Systematic proceeding (abstraction & knowledge)Systemic contemplation (including prognosis)

Tip: Chaotic, ordered & complex systemsTip: Chaotic, ordered & complex systems

http://cognitive-edge.com/video-childrens-party.php

8 Bio-Cybernetic Principles by Vester8 Bio-Cybernetic Principles by Vester

Negative feedback has to dominate positive feedback System functions have to be independent from

quantitative growth Systems have to be based on function, not on products Usage of given forces (Jiu-Jitsu) instead of combat Multi-usage of products, functions and organisational

structures Recycling – Usage of circular flows*

Symbiosis – Usage of differences**

Biological design of products, functions and organisational structures by feedback-planning

* Compare to Cradle 2 Cradle approach (not only material, but also function is sustained) * * Synergy means the usage of similarities

Comparation of Systemic TacticsComparation of Systemic Tactics

Qualitative growth

Systems gain stability by negative feedback(compare HIV negativ)

KISS Keep it Smart & Simple

Synergy & SymbiosisEconomisation

ESS Be Nice Twice

USP & Niche Thyself!

Quantitative growth

Systems tilt because of positive feedback (compare HIV positiv)

MISS Make it Simple & Stupid

Competition & CannibalismLoss of energy

Game TheoryPerma-Defector

Vendor‘s Tray & Dot-Com

Win-Win Situations in Technology?Win-Win Situations in Technology?

Triggering your mind …

Do you know examples for technical symbiosis?

Principle 34?(Discarding and recovering)

Principle 40?(Composite material)

© Siegfried Bellach | pixelio.de

ConclusioConclusioInterface TRIZ–Biomimetics–Sustainability–Ethics?

ConclusioConclusio

TRIZAdditional usage of “natural“ knowledge effects.

SustainabilityNature as measure for good (process) design.

EthicsNatur as mentor for life-affirmative technologies and

proceedings.

Thank you!Thank you!

© Jürgen Mittag | pixelio.de

RecommendationsRecommendations

Biomimicry – Innovation Inspired by Naturevon Janine M. Benyus

Die Kunst vernetzt zu denken Ideen und Werkzeuge für einen neuen Umgang mit Komplexität von Frederic Vester

Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century von Alex Steffen