Implicit contradictions identification and solution process model for complex technical systems

Abstract

The innovation of complex technical systems is an evolutionary process of continuously resolving contradictions, and the implicit contradictions in it may be a great hidden threat causing the failure of system functions. Existing contradiction analysis methods show limitations in identifying and solving implicit contradictions. This paper proposed an implicit contradiction identification and solution process model for complex technical systems. Based on the perspective of evolution, first, in this model, an implicit contradiction identification method based on need evolution and functional failure prediction analyses is proposed. Then, the identified contradictions were standardized, an implicit contradiction network was developed quantitatively according to the correlation analysis of contradictions, contradictions were clustered, and the contradictions of the same group were ranked. Furthermore, for implicit contradictions, an optimization solution path was formulated by combining the parallel solution of implicit contradictions in different groups and the serial solution of implicit contradictions in the same group, which is convenient to solve the contradictions rapidly by using TRIZ (theory of inventive problem solving) tool. Finally, the model was validated by employing a solar cell module disassembly device as an engineering case, and a feasible innovation scheme was obtained. The dynamic identification and solution of new sub-contradictions in the process of implicit contradiction resolution will be the main research direction in the future.