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Innovation, development and tech transfer Part 2 (Consumer rights and…
Innovation, development and tech transfer Part 2
Research and development R&D
The process of research and development
1 Pure Basic Research
2 Directed Basic Research
3 Project Applied Research
4 Operational Applied Research
5 Component Development
6 Systems Development
Effects of trends and cycles
Parameters such as GNP per capita\energy requirements\ research funding is plotted over trends. Exponential Growth as a secular trend
Note Formula on PAGE 18
Long cyclic behaviour
n occurred in times of
prosperity that afforded freedom to invent.
explanation for the average two generation gestation period between a major invention and the associated economic return
Clustering of innovation
The introduction of innovation was bunched into periods of rapid
expansion
As a technology comes of age it tends to become specialised,
over-organised and unprofitable
Consumer rights and protection
product liability
Two US judges concluded that engineering is an exact science and proceeded to specify damages accordingly for an engineering failure
view has gained widespread acceptance and has stifled the
development of new products
One of the implication is that we as engineers should be more open
to the possibility of failure and the acceptance of risk.
Conspiracy by motor vehicle/tyre/petrol cartel
General motors, firestone and Standard oil developed a market for their product by destroying public transport
They bought the electric trolley network in 45 US cities and replaced them with busses, then ran the service down forcing the public to buy their products
Ralph Nader – Unsafe under any speed (1965)
He successfully challenged the worship of the automobile and dramatically exposed some of the shortcomings of the American Autombile
Chevrolet Covair
had such poor suspension geometry that it could roll over if it hit a bump going round a moderate curve at 60km/h. The irony of the Covair was that the problem could be corrected by simply fitting a stabilizer bar
Swing axel suspension
– Great amount of single wheel camber change.
– Rebound on suspension unloading causes positive chamber which can overturn the car
– Reduction in cornering force due to camber change can lead to over steer
Ford Pinto
• Tests showed that the fuel tank could be punctured in a rear end collision
• The cost to prevent this was around $11/vehicle
• Ford decided against it because its costs would be significantly higher than likely compensation claims for deaths and injuries
Ppl at fault
Attitude arose that the hazards, injuries and deaths on the road were all caused by the manufacturers
This attitude is remarkably similar to some tribal societies that all
illness is caused by the ill-will of some other person
has been y exaggerated claims for the safety, reliability and social benefit of all sorts of extreme tech
Such claims fed the unfortunate notion that engineering is an exact
science
The expected cost of litigation is said to be ½ the cost of a
motorcycle helmet
Consumer rights and protection
product liability
Legislation and innovation
• We do need to consider how the law affects product commercialization
• There is an increased recognition of the need to protect consumers from products that can harm them
• Design and manufacturing need to produce safer products
• Wrt. liability a few things you can consider are:
• Packaging, labelling and warnings (The Coviar was sensitive to rear tyre pressure - proper warning could have reduced the risk for rollover)
• The effect of the manufacturing process and risk associated with changing it
• Intended use and possible misuse scenarios
• List of accessories that can be used with the device and there interaction
Standard Bodies
• Have promoted a uniform approach to product development
• ISO is a nongovernmental society established in1947 for the purpose of developing worldwide standards, improving international communication and collaboration, promoting smooth and equitable growth of international trade
Negligence and strict liability
Two main approaches when it comes to liability: Negligence and strict liability
Negligence
The injured party must show that there was a defect in the product and that that defect caused him/her injury or loss
2ndly he/she must show that the defect resulted from negligence of the designer/manufacturer in that they failed to exercise a reasonable duty of care in the design/manufacture of the product
1 st step of duty from designer/manufacturer would be to insure that the product met the relevant statutory requirements
Increased emphasis on ‘safety’
When hazards cannot easily or inexpensively be removed by good design, the inherent risks must be communicated clearly to those responsible for preparing product warnings and instructions
A comprehensive hazard assessment is essential.
The requirement to prove misuse can be costly and a constraint on product development
