B-FMEA-TRIZ model for scheme decision in conceptual product design: A study on upper-limb hemiplegia rehabilitation exoskeleton.

Upper-limb rehabilitation devices are essential in restoring and improving the motor function of hemiplegic patients. However, developing a product design that meets the needs of users is challenging. Current design tools and methods suffer from limitations such as a single model, poor synergy between integrated models, and subjective bias in analysing user needs and translating them into product attributes. To address these issues, this study proposes a new structural design decision-making model based on Behaviour Analysis (B), Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA), and Teoriya Resheniya Izobreatatelskikh Zadatch (TRIZ theory). The model was developed and applied to design an upper-limb rehabilitation exoskeleton for hemiplegia. In this paper, an empirical investigation was conducted in several rehabilitation hospitals in Xuzhou City and used user journey mapping to identify potential failure points in the behaviour process. Then, the fault models were ranked according to the Fuzzy Risk Priority Number (FRPN) calculated by FMEA and used TRIZ theory to determine principles for resolving contradictions and generating creative design solutions for the product. By integrating B, FMEA, and TRIZ theory, it eliminated subjective bias in product design, improved the design decision-making process, and provided new methods and ideas for designing assistive rehabilitation devices and similar products. The framework of the proposed approach can be used in other contexts to develop effective and precise product designs that meet the needs of users.

Innovating Household Food Waste Management: A User-Centric Approach with AHP-TRIZ Integration.

Food waste management remains a paramount issue in the field of social innovation. While government-led public recycling measures are important, the untapped role of residents in food waste management at the household level also demands attention. This study aims to propose the design of a smart system that leverages sensors, mobile terminals, and cloud data services to facilitate food waste reduction. Unlike conventional solutions that rely on mechanical and biological technologies, the proposed system adopts a user-centric approach. By integrating the analytical hierarchy process and the theory of inventive problem solving, this study delves into users' actual needs and explores intelligent solutions that are alternatives to traditional approaches to address conflicts in the problem solving phase. The study identifies five main criteria for user demands and highlights user-preferred subcriteria. It determines two physical conflicts and two technical conflicts and explores corresponding information and communications technology (ICT)-related solutions. The tangible outcomes encompass a semi-automated recycling product, a mobile application, and a data centre, which are all designed to help residents navigate the challenges regarding food waste resource utilisation. This study provides an approach that considers users' genuine demands, empowering them to actively engage in and become practitioners of household food waste reduction. The findings serve as valuable references for similar smart home management systems, providing insights to guide future developments.

Investigation of annual trucks fatal accidents in El Hajeb province of Morocco using TRIZ-Ishikawa diagram.

A stretch of road in the province of EL HAJEB, located in the central-south region of Morocco, is classified among the roadways experiencing an accumulation of fatal traffic accidents, with a particular involvement of freight transport vehicles. Investigation reports elaborated for these fatal accidents specify that these accidents occurred when drivers lost control of their vehicles due to brake system failures, resulting in multiple fatalities. However, these investigation reports did not provide root causes of this phenomena. Scientific research efforts in this field are directed toward preventive solutions and proposing a comprehensive analytical approach. This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms behind these specific accident phenomena on the identified stretch in the city of EL HAJEB. To achieve the study's objective and identify the triggering or contributing factors of these failures, we employed a novel approach combining the TRIZ and Ishikawa tools. This is a systematic methodology for analyzing potential causes of accidents, allowing us to clarify the intricacies of the specific phenomena leading to accidents while systematizing the analysis process, thus contributing to enhancing the effectiveness of investigative teams. This article contributes to introducing a new analytical tool in the field of accident analysis.

Semantic TRIZ feasibility in technology development, innovation, and production: A systematic review.

The study unfolds with an acknowledgment of the extensive exploration of TRIZ components, spanning a solid philosophy, quantitative and inductive methods, and practical tools, over the years. While the adoption of Semantic TRIZ (S-TRIZ) in high-tech industries for system development, innovation, and production has increased, the application of AI technologies to specific TRIZ components remains unexplored. This systematic literature review is conducted to delve into the detailed integration of AI with TRIZ, particularly S-TRIZ. The results elucidate the current state of AI applications within TRIZ, identifying focal TRIZ components and areas requiring further study. Additionally, the study highlights the trending AI technologies in this context. This exploration serves as a foundational resource for researchers, developers, and inventors, providing valuable insights into the integration of AI technologies with TRIZ concepts. The study not only paves the way for the development and automation of S-TRIZ but also outlines limitations for future research, guiding the trajectory of advancements in this interdisciplinary field.

Electrospinning Evolution Derived from TRIZ Theory for Directly Writing Patterned Nanofibers.

Nanofibers (NFs) have the advantages of tremendous flexibility, small size and a high surface-to-weight ratio and are widely used in sensors, drug carriers and filters. Patterned NFs have expanded their application fields in tissue engineering and electronics. Electrospinning (ES) is widely used to prepare nonwoven NFs by stretching polymer solution jets with electric forces. However, patterned NFs cannot be easily fabricated using ordinary ES methods: the process gradually deteriorates them as repulsion effects between the deposited NFs and the incoming ones increase while residual charges in the fibers accumulate. Repulsion effects are unavoidable because charges in the polymer solution jets are the fundamental forces that are meant to stretch the jets into NFs. TRIZ theory is an effective innovation method for resolving conflicts and eliminating contradictions. Based on the material-field model and the contradiction matrix of TRIZ theory, we propose a strategy to improve ES devices, neutralizing the charges retained in NFs by alternating the current power of the correct frequency, thus successfully fabricating patterned NFs with clear boundaries and good continuity. This study demonstrates a strategy for resolving conflicts in innovation processes based on TRIZ theory and fabricating patterned NFs for potential applications in flexible electronics and wearable sensors.

Promoting active aging through assistive product design innovation: a preference-based integrated design framework.

Background: With the accelerating trend of global aging, over one billion people need to use one or more types of assistive products. However, the high abandonment rate of current assistive products is affecting the quality of life of the older adults, posing challenges to public health. Accurately capturing the preference factors of the older adults in the design process is an important way to improve the acceptance of assistive products. In addition, a systematic approach is needed to translate these preference factors into innovative product solutions. These two issues are less addressed in existing research. Methods: First, the evaluation grid method was used to conduct in-depth interviews with users and extract the structure of preference factors for assistive products. Quantification theory type I was used to calculate the weight of each factor. Secondly, universal design principles, TRIZ theory's contradiction analysis techniques, and invention principles were used to translate the preference factors into design guidelines. Then, finite structure method (FSM), morphological chart, and CAD techniques were used to visualize the design guidelines as alternatives. Finally, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to evaluate and rank the alternatives. Results: A Preference-based Assistive Product Design Model (PAPDM) was proposed. The model includes three stages: definition, ideation, and evaluation. A case study on walking aid demonstrated the execution of PAPDM. The results show that 28 preference factors influence the four psychological needs of the older adults: sense of security, sense of independence, self-esteem, and sense of participation. These psychological needs were reflected in the shape, color, material, universality, user-friendly, reliability, and smart functions of assistive products. The preference factors were transformed into five design guidelines, and three alternatives were generated. Finally, the evaluation concludes that solution C was the optimal solution. Conclusion: The PAPDM framework provides designers with a transparent, progressive approach to designing assistive products that meet unique needs and preferences of older adults. This enhances objectivity and scientific rigor in assistive product development, avoiding blind design and production. By considering the perspective of older adults from the outset, we can avoid high abandonment rates of assistive products and contribute to promoting active aging.

Biomimetics with Trade-Offs.

Our knowledge of physics and chemistry is relatively well defined. Results from that knowledge are predictable as, largely, are those of their technical offspring such as electrical, chemical, mechanical and civil engineering. By contrast, biology is relatively unconstrained and unpredictable. A factor common to all areas is the trade-off, which provides a means of defining and quantifying a problem and, ideally, its solution. In order to understand the anatomy of the trade-off and how to handle it, its development (as the dialectic) is tracked from Hegel and Marx to its implementation as dialectical materialism in Russian philosophy and TRIZ, the Theory of Invention. With the ready availability of mathematical techniques, such as multi-objective analysis and the Pareto set, the trade-off is well-adapted to bridging the gaps between the quantified and the unquantifiable, allowing modelling and the transfer of concepts by analogy. It is thus an ideal tool for biomimetics. An intracranial endoscope can be derived with little change from the egg-laying tube of a wood wasp. More complex transfers become available as the technique is developed. Most important, as more trade-offs are analyzed, their results are stored to be used again in the solution of problems. There is no other system in biomimetics which can do this.

Structure bionic topology design method based on biological unit cell.

The mechanical structure topology design based on substructure always adopts the traditional substructure design method, which often comes from the experience and is limited by the inherent or stereotyped design thinking. A substructure design method based on biological unit cell (UC) is proposed, which draws inspiration from the biological efficient load-bearing topology structure. Especially, the thought of the formalized problem-solving of extension matter-element is introduced. Through the matter-element definition of UC substructure, the process model for the structure bionic topology design method based on biological UC is formed, which avoids the random or wild mental stimulation of the structure topology design method based on traditional substructure. In particular, in this proposed method, aiming at the problem about how to achieve the integration of high-efficiency load-bearing advantage of different organisms, furthermore, a biological UC hybridization method based on the principle of inventive problem solving theory (TRIZ) is proposed. The typical case is used to illustrate the process of this method in detail. The results from simulations and experiments both show that: the load-bearing capacity of structure design based on biology UC is improved than the initial design; on this basis, the load-bearing capacity of structure design is improved further through UC hybridization. All these show the feasibility and correctness of the proposed method.

Investigating the evolution of the technologies for collecting microplastics.

To stop the dispersion of microplastics in the ecosystem, many technologies for collecting them were designed, tested and developed in the last period. However, a complete and exhaustive comparison of these technologies to guide in the choice and/or in the development of the most suitable appropriate one is missing in the literature. This study investigates the presence of some known technological trends, deriving from the TRIZ (Russian acronym for "Theory of Inventive Problem Solving") in the behaviour (i.e. the operating principle) of these technologies. To do this, a systematic methodology was followed, which has a general value and consists in analysing the patents relating to these technologies through various bibliometric indexes (i.e. Innovation index, Emergence Score index, Independent Claims index and Technology Cycle Time index). In general, the obtained results did not reveal a clearly identifiable ranking of the behaviour which was unanimously confirmed by all the considered bibliometric indexes. In addition, the average of the scores of the different indexes associated with the different behaviours equalized their differences. However, these results are mainly due to the markedly different evaluations obtained by the Emergence Score index compared to those of the other indexes. From the comparison of the results with the evolutionary trends, it emerged that the operative zone reduction trend was the most confirmed, while the technical system dematerialization was the least confirmed by the bibliometric analysis of all the indexes. In particular, the ranking of the behaviours provided by the Innovation index best confirmed all the evolutionary trends, while that of the Emergence Score index was the worst. In conclusion, this study confirmed the adherence of the development that technologies for collecting microplastics are following to the evolutionary trends through bibliometric analysis: this sequence places magnetic technologies in first place, followed by chemical, fluid dynamics, dynamic mechanics and static mechanics. The analysis of the performances declared in the patents substantially confirms this result.

Application of TRIZ theory in clinical teaching in orthopedic operating room / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Objective:To investigate the role of TRIZ theory in clinical teaching in orthopedic operating room.Methods:A total of 43 interns in the orthopedic operating room of our hospital from October 2019 to July 2020 were selected as control group, and 46 interns in the orthopedic operating room of our hospital from August 2020 to May 2021 were selected as observation group. The interns in the control group received traditional teaching, and those in the observation group received teaching based on TRIZ theory. The two groups were compared in terms of professional assessment results, self-evaluation, satisfaction score, and qualification of aseptic operation in orthopedic operating room. SPSS 22.0 was used to perform the t-test and the chi-square test. Results:Compared with the control group, the observation group had significantly higher theoretical knowledge score, practical skill score, and weighted total score ( t=14.90, 11.82, and 13.23, all P?0.001). Compared with the control group, the observation group also had significantly higher scores of analysis and problem-solving ability, clinical thinking, doctor-patient communication, psychological quality, clinical case analysis, self-study ability, and teaching satisfaction ( t=7.88, 11.78, 15.26, 7.94, 12.93, 9.83, and 13.22, all P?0.001). Compared with the control group, the observation group had significantly higher qualified rates of surgical hand-washing, wearing sterile surgical gowns, non-contact glove wearing; and bacteriological testing ( χ 2=4.22, 6.02, 4.92, and 7.59, P=0.040, 0.014, 0.027, and 0.006). Conclusion:TRIZ theory has a certain value in clinical teaching in orthopedic operating room and can significantly improve the scores of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, strengthen aseptic operation abilities in orthopedic operating room, and enhance the satisfaction with teaching among interns.

Improvement of a microfiber filter for domestic washing machines.

The development of enhanced processes for filtration is one solution for stopping the increasing freshwater and sea pollution caused by microplastic and microfibers. Major contributors to micro-X pollution are domestic devices such as washing machines, which also hold a high technical potential for separating problematic soils from waste water during cleaning cycles. The focus of the present paper are the biomimetic development of a novel concept for filtration and removal of particles such as microfibers in conventional washing machines. To this goal, a TRIZ analysis yielded viable solutions for the major key issues. In a next step, measurements were made with various filters with and without ribbed structures. The results are promising for the incorporation in a filter concept that is easy to operate and cost-effective.

Design and process optimization of combined medical and elderly care services: An integrated service blueprint-TRIZ model.

China's increasingly aging population is resulting in an imbalance between supply and demand for elderly care resources. The theory of "combined medical and elderly care" (CMEC) has introduced a new perspective in the conception of China's elderly care problems. This study employed the service blueprint, fuzzy failure mode and effects analysis (Fuzzy-FMEA), and the theory of inventive problem solving (TIPS or the Russian acronym TRIZ) for the process optimization of CMEC services in three phases. In the first phase (service process analysis), potential service failure points in the service process were analyzed using the service blueprint technique. In the second phase (service failure diagnosis), Fuzzy-FMEA was applied to diagnose the service failure modes and explore the possible causes and effects. The service failure modes were then prioritized based on fuzzy numbers and the cumulative fuzzy risk priority number (Fuzzy-RPN). Finally, in the third phase (generation of service optimization solutions), the TRIZ parameters, inventive principles, and contradiction matrix were first employed to select TRIZ inventive principles. The selected TRIZ inventive principles were then used to inspire inventive solutions for new service processes. Finally, a case study was conducted on the service processes of elderly care institutions to demonstrate the applicability of the optimization solutions.

How to implement inclusive design into distinctive feature hand tool? a design study on fine operation-aid screwdriver.

Hand tool design should integrate the concept of Inclusive Design to be accessible to most users. However, current Inclusive Design strategies of product development are mostly used in post-design evaluation. The retention of inclusive properties in product when new functions are incorporated is essential. Fine operation-aid screwdrivers are designed according to user requirements to address frequently-encountered problems when using screwdrivers namely-insufficient lighting and difficulty in properly installing screws respectively. TRIZ method is applied, comprised the improving parameters solving the problems and worsening parameters which prevents the original inclusive design factors from being damaged into the contradiction matrix, and obtains a set of innovation principles. Eight experts were consulted for their design ideas and developed two fine operation-aid screwdrivers embracing the concept of Inclusive Design. Furthermore, factors regarding the two major operating problems were added to an existing hand tools Inclusive Design Scale. After correlation analysis, the inclusive fine operation-aid screwdriver evaluation scale was established. In addition, two more screwdrivers were selected with the same functions and high reviews on the market as control samples, and 39 users were recruited using a quota sampling strategy to participate in Inclusive Design evaluations. The results revealed that the fine operation-aid screwdrivers evidently solved the two major operating problems in terms of the five dimensions including functionality, comfort, professionality, safety, and usability in the inclusive fine operation-aid screwdriver evaluation scale, thereby affirming the rationality and reliability of our hand tool development approach.

Conceptual Modeling of Extended Collision Warning System from the Perspective of Smart Product-Service System.

While Product-Service Systems (PSS) have a potential sustainability impact by increasing a product's life and reducing resource consumption, the lack of ownership might lead to less responsible user behavior. Smart PSS can overcome this obstacle and guarantee correct and safe PSS use. In this context, intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs) with PSS can effectively reduce traffic accidents and ensure the safety of vehicles and pedestrians by guaranteeing optimal and safe vehicle operation. A core subsystem to support that is the collision-warning system (CWS). Existing CWSs are, however, limited to in-car warning; users have less access to the warning information, so the result of CWS for collision avoidance is insufficient. Therefore, CWS needs to be extended to include more elements and stakeholders in the collision scenario. This paper aims to provide a novel understanding of extended CWS (ECWS), outline the conceptual framework of ECWS, and contribute a conceptual modeling approach of ECWS from the smart PSS perspective at the functional level. It defines an integrated solution of intelligent products and warning services. The function is modeled based on the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ). Functions of an ECWS from the perspective of smart PSS can be comprehensively expressed to form an overall solution of integrated intelligent products, electronic services, and stakeholders. Based on the case illustration, the proposed method can effectively help function modeling and development of the ECWS at a conceptual level. This can effectively avoid delays due to traffic accidents and ensure the safety of vehicles and pedestrians.

Marimo actuated rover systems.

BACKGROUND: The potential to directly harness photosynthesis to make actuators, biosensors and bioprocessors has been previously demonstrated in the literature. Herein, this capability has been expanded to more advanced systems - Marimo Actuated Rover Systems (MARS) - which are capable of autonomous, solar powered, movement. RESULTS: We demonstrate this ability is both a practical and viable alternative to conventional mobile platforms for exploration and dynamic environmental monitoring. Prototypes have been successfully tested to measure their speed of travel and ability to automatically bypass obstacles. Further, MARS is electromagnetically silent, thus avoiding the background noise generated by conventional electro/mechanical platforms which reduces instrument sensitivity. The cost of MARS is significantly lower than platforms based on conventional technology. CONCLUSIONS: An autonomous, low-cost, lightweight, compact size, photosynthetically powered rover is reported. The potential for further system enhancements are identified and under development.

A TRIZ-driven conceptualisation of finger grip enhancer designs for the elderly.

Background: Elderly people with severe finger weakness may need assistive health technology interventions. Finger weakness impedes the elderly in executing activities of daily living such as unbuttoning shirts and opening clothes pegs. While studies have related finger weakness with ageing effects, there appears to be no research that uses an algorithmic problem-solving approach such as the theory of inventive problem-solving (TRIZ) to recommend finger grip assistive technologies that resolve the issue of finger weakness among the elderly. Using TRIZ, this study aims to conceptualise finger grip enhancer designs for elderly people. Methods: Several TRIZ tools such as the cause-and-effect chain (CEC) analysis, engineering contradiction, physical contradiction, and substance-field analysis are used to conceptualise solutions that assist elderly people in their day-to-day pinching activities. Results: Based on the segmentation principle, a finger assistant concept powered by a miniature linear actuator is recommended. Specific product development processes are used to further conceptualise the actuation system. The study concluded that the chosen concept should use a DC motor to actuate fingers through tendon cables triggered by a push start button. Conclusions: Finger pinch degradation worsens the quality of life of the elderly. A finger grip enhancer that assists in day-to-day activities may be an effective option for elderly people, not only for their physical but also their mental well-being in society.

Using Off-the-Shelf Graphic Design Software for Validating the Operation of an Image Processing System.

Fluorescent markers are widely used to protect banknotes, passports, and other documents. Verification of such documents relies upon visual assessment of the markers revealed by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, such an explicit approach is inappropriate in certain circumstances, e.g., when discretely checking people for marks left by a pepper gel thrower. The UV light and fluorescent light must not be visible in such applications, yet reliable detection of the markers must still be performed. This problem was successfully resolved using TRIZ methodology, which led to a patent application. The main idea of the solution is to use low-intensity time-variable UV light for illuminating an object and process the image of the object acquired by a camera to detect colour changes too small to be noticed with the naked eye. This paper describes how popular graphics editors such as Adobe Photoshop Elements were used to validate the system concept devised. Simulation experiments used images taken in both visible and UV light to assess the effectiveness and perceptibility of the detection process. The advantage of such validation comes from using commodity software and performing the experiments without access to a laboratory and without physical samples, which makes this approach especially suitable in pandemic times.

Waste to phosphorus: A transdisciplinary solution to P recovery from wastewater based on the TRIZ approach.

Phosphorus (P) is a limited yet essential resource. P cannot be replaced, but it can be recovered from waste. We proposed the TRIZ approach (Teoria reszenija izobretatielskich zadacz - Rus., Theory of Inventive Problem Solving - Eng.) to identify a feasible solution. We aimed at minimizing the environmental impact and, by eliminating contradictions, proposed viable technical solutions. P recovery can be more sustainable based on circular economy and 4Rs (reduction, recovery, reuse, and recycling). The TRIZ approach identified sewage sludge (SS) as waste with a large potential for P recovery (up to 90%). Successful selection and application of SS management and P recovery require a transdisciplinary approach to overcome the various socio-economic, environmental, technical, and legal aspects. The review provides an understanding of principles that must be taken to improve understanding of the whole process of P recovery from wastewater while building on the last two decades of research.

A TRIZ-inspired bat algorithm for gene selection in cancer classification.

Gene expression data are expected to make a great contribution in the producing of efficient cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Gene expression data are coded by large measured genes, and only of a few number of them carry precious information for different classes of samples. Recently, several researchers proposed gene selection methods based on metaheuristic algorithms for analysing and interpreting gene expression data. However, due to large number of selected genes with limited number of patient's samples and complex interaction between genes, many gene selection methods experienced challenges in order to approach the most relevant and reliable genes. Hence, in this paper, a hybrid filter/wrapper, called rMRMR-MBA is proposed for gene selection problem. In this method, robust Minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevancy (rMRMR) as filter to select the most promising genes and an modified bat algorithm (MBA) as search engine in wrapper approach is proposed to identify a small set of informative genes. The performance of the proposed method has been evaluated using ten gene expression datasets. For performance evaluation, MBA is evaluated by studying the convergence behaviour of MBA with and without TRIZ optimisation operators. For comparative evaluation, the results of the proposed rMRMR-MBA were compared against ten state-of-arts methods using the same datasets. The comparative study demonstrates that the proposed method produced better results in terms of classification accuracy and number of selected genes in two out of ten datasets and competitive results on the remaining datasets. In a nutshell, the proposed method is able to produce very promising results with high classification accuracy which can be considered a promising contribution for gene selection domain.

Marimo machines: oscillators, biosensors and actuators.

BACKGROUND: The green algae balls (Aegagropila linnaei), known as Marimo, are large spherical colonies of live photosynthetic filaments, formed by rolling water currents in freshwater lakes. Photosynthesis therein produces gas bubbles that can attach to the Marimo, consequently changing its buoyancy. This property allows them to float in the presence of light and sink in its absence. RESULTS: We demonstrate that this ability can be harnessed to make actuators, biosensors and bioprocessors (oscillator, logic gates). Factors affecting Marimo movement have been studied to enable the design, construction and testing of working prototypes. CONCLUSIONS: A novel actuator design is reported, incorporating an enhanced bubble retention system and the design and optimisation of a bio-oscillator is demonstrated. A range of logic gates (or, and, nor, nand, xor) implementable with Marimo have been proposed.