This pattern describes system transformations achieved by increasing the mobility, dynamics of its components through changing the character of links between these components and gaining an opportunity to change the parameters of the components themselves.
In the general case, dynamicity implies a change in some parameters of a system – temperature, pressure, speed, motion freedom, etc. In the simplest case, we may speak of dynamizing a system by increasing the mobility of its components. Dynamization makes a system controllable or adaptable to changes in operation conditions. It becomes possible to adjust system’s components to the optimal operation mode, to match more accurately its parameters with the changing requirements imposed by the environment.
Just at this transformation stage, it is necessary to check whether the parameters of the system’s components can be changed. The dynamicity degree of the parameters is selected depending on specific operation conditions of a component. In case of need, tight couplings are replaced with movable, flexible; fields are replaced with more dynamic ones. For example, a permanent magnetic field may be replaced with a variable field produced by an electromagnet.
To ensure the mobility of a system’s parts, it is necessary to have resources, i.e., if a system consists of one component, this one can only be dynamized by changing some parameter characterizing the operation of the entire component.
Additional dynamization possibilities appear when a system has several objects and it is possible to provide their mobility relative to each other. Introduction of such resources into the system must be provided by performing actions illustrated by patterns 3.1.1 – 3.1.7. Thus, system dynamization, along with the provision of operational control, is the most important action in the hierarchy of transformations; it is directly responsible for the preparation of full coordination of all system’s parts with each other and the system itself with the environment.
Let us consider an ordinary door to illustrate the hierarchy of mental actions aimed at system transformation. This is what we need to do to obtain a door: to separate a fragment, equal in size to the future door, from a wall (“Segmentation”), to make it thinner and lighter (“Coordination of shape, size and arrangement of components”). Rigidly attaching the door to the formed opening will not allow it to open. Hence we must perform dynamization, i.e. to provide a hinge mount of the door.
Then it is necessary to find a method for opening and closing it (Controllability) and to determine when the door should be open and when it should be closed (Coordination of system’s components operation). The first step of the “Dynamization” pattern corresponds to the system’s modification wherein the system’s parts are tightly coupled with each other.
The pattern may comprise the following steps:
transition to a system that is movable in one direction,
increasing the degrees of freedom of the system’s components,
transition to flexible couplings,
transition to a system having field-coupled parts,
transition to a system having separated parts.
To specify the performance of each transition, a designer must constantly collect information about different types of couplings. For example, for the “flexible coupling” transformation type, they may be couplings having both different degrees of flexibility and different degrees of freedom.
Steps of the Dynamisation development line
Example of dynamization - toothbrush mount
A monolithic, rigid toothbrush head/handle mount is replaced with a hinge mount which allows bending within a small range.
The next variant is using two hinges, which considerably increases mobility. Then follows an “accordion” – a corrugated portion of plastic that increases the coupling flexibility. To prevent dirt accumulation between the accordion pleats or in hinge cavities, the coupling portion is made monolithic, smooth, but the material used is flexible and elastic.
Dynamisation of the toothbrush head attachment to the handle
The final step of this pattern may be a toothbrush head physically separated from its handle but held and controlled by a magnetic field. Such a head will be the most adaptable and movable version. At first sight, use of magnetic field for mounting a toothbrush head looks unrealistic. However, such brushes are known, they provide a soft and gentle effect on teeth. A similar magnetic coupling of a cleaning component and a control component is used in a device for cleaning windows on top floors of buildings. A cleaner moves a magnetic handle on the internal side of the glass while a cleaning sponge which also has a magnet moves synchronously on the external surface of the glass.
