40 inventive principles / #29
#29 Pneumatics and hydraulics
What it says
- Use gas or liquid parts instead of solid ones: inflatable, liquid-filled, air-cushioned or hydraulic.
Examples
- Software
- Elastic resource pools that flow to where load is.
- Business
- Flexible staffing pools that move between teams.
- Engineering
- Air bags; hydraulic lifts.
- Everyday life
- An inflatable mattress for guests.
Where the matrix suggests it
The classic contradiction matrix suggests Pneumatics and hydraulics in 118 of its 1,248 filled cells. Most often for these conflicts:
- Improving Weight of moving object worsens Area of moving object
- Improving Weight of moving object worsens Volume of moving object
- Improving Weight of moving object worsens Adaptability or versatility
- Improving Length of moving object worsens Quantity of substance
- Improving Area of moving object worsens Speed
- Improving Area of moving object worsens Quantity of substance
- Improving Area of moving object worsens Reliability
- Improving Volume of moving object worsens Speed