Competing system

Competing system is an engineering system that performs the same or similar main function as the analyzed system.

Overview

The term of competing system is used in feature transfer. These are systems that can potentially provide features needed by the initial system/component that is being improved.

At the stage of their identification, main function is the only criterium for selection. A special attention must be given to its correct formulating. A poorly defined main function can lead to incorrect identification of systems (for example, a movie theater and a television are not competitive systems).

The competing systems can be found in a similar or entirely different fields, industries, or environments, also in fairytales or sci-fi stories. Their design, scale, or utilized resources can be extremely different.

A specific case of a competing system is an alternative system.

Competing systems for devices and for processes

Depending on the project, competing systems can be identified for devices or for processes.

Some examples for devices can be the following:

system

a hair dryer

a car

a light-bulb

main function

removes moisture (liquid)

moves things

generates light

competing systems

a sponge

an activated charcoal

a heater

a centrifugal dryer

a paper towel

a freeze-dryer

an electrolyzer

a boat

a shopping bag

an elevator

a conveyor belt

a magnet (for metal objects)

a drone

a dimensional portal

a glow sticks

LED (light-emitting diode)

a candle

a firefly

phosphorescent material

Tesla coil

a smartphone screen

An example of a process can be an aqueous detergent cleaning performed in a washing machine. It has been designed to eliminate adhesive forces between dirt particles and fibers. Some examples of competing systems can be the following:

ultrasonic cleaning,
microwave cleaning,
dry cleaning (with organic solvents),
cryogenic cleaning (dry ice or liquid nitrogen),
laser ablation,
supercritical CO₂ cleaning, etc.