History

Method Company was founded in 1989. Before 1996 Method Company was called Method science and engineering cooperative (Method SEC).

Projects:

1. 1989 – 1992. Release of series of 7 books «Methods of problem analysis and search for solutions in engineering». Each book circulation was 50 000 copies.

2. 1990 – 1995. Development of Edison (ES) EDISON (versions 1.0 ¸ 4.03) and Novator ES (versions 1.0 ¸ 3.01). About 300 copies were sold.

   Edison ES and Novator ES were developed to solve inventive problems. They were shown at CeBIT- 95 in Hanover.
    
   Edison ES (version 4.03) and Novator ES (version 3.01) developers
   Exhibition at Expocentre in Moscow in 1991.
   Video about the expert systems (Method SEC). Please excuse the quality of the old record.

3. 1992 – 1995. Development and production of prototypes of some technical devices.

   • Infrared locator to detect obstacles while parking. The locator is resistant to external heat and light sources as well as pollution. The license for the production and sale of the locator was sold to Sytel company (Russia).

   • Metal-plastic adhesive joint. The ultimate strength of the adhesive joint is close to that of the plastic

   • The research work – Methods and devices to measure the landing speed of drone aircraft2D

   • The research work – Methods and devices to detect defects in diamonds. As part of this work algorithms to restore 3D of objects using 2D scanning results were developed, and nontoxic high-refractivity fluid was created.

   • Electric coagulator to stop internal hemorrhage and forceps for the use in endosurgical operations by the order of the Moscow-based department of Johnson & Johnson (USA). The copyright was transferred to J&J.

4. 1995 - 1996. Development of TechCreator ES (beta-version) by order of Invention Machine Corporation (USA). The key advantage of TechCreator is that it builds structural schemes of technical devices, using physical effects base without any human assistance.  The license was sold to Invention Machine Corporation. TechCreator ES developers

5. 1996 - 2002. Participation in development of databases for a line of software. 

   • Base of scientific effects for Phenomenon 1.0 (Invention Machine Corporation product, 1997).

   • Dictionary of synonyms and vertical knowledge base for CoBrain.com portal (Invention Machine Corporation product, 1998).

   • Effect module for TechOptimizer 3.05 (Invention Machine Corporation product, 2001) and for Goldfire Innovator (Invention Machine Corporation product, 2002). In total, the knowledge base Method Company developed for the projects Phenomenon, TechOptimizer and Goldfire Innovator comprises more than 4000 physical, chemical and biological effects as well as more than 4000 technical examples to illustrate the effects. Each effect has estimated mathematical model, and each effect and example are provided with a textual description and animations.

6. 2002 - 2003. Development of list containing 4000 effects.

7. 2004 – 2009. Development of Novator 4.01 innovation software and Effects 200 database.

8. 2010 – 2011. Development of Novator 4.02 innovation software, Effects 300 database, and the Situation Analysis (SA) software.

9. 2012. Release of Physical Fundamentals of Engineering book.

10. 2013. Development of Innovation adviser online service.

11. 2014 – 2017 Development of conceptual method and release of Conceptual design: invention theory book.
12. 2017 – 2022 Development of a concept automation design system - Novator 4.03 and analytical programs - Target analysis, Phenomena analysis, System comparison, System optimization, and Search.
13. 2023 Novator 4.03 testing and release of  A collection of inventive problems book.
14. 2024 Launch of sales of the programs Novator 4.03, Target analysis, Phenomena analysis, System comparison, System optimization, and Search as well as the books Conceptual design: invention theory and A collection of inventive problems.