Start with the assumption that someone has already done it... Do a thorough literature survey... Ask experts working on the most similar thing. Don't be dishear

Start with the assumption that someone has already done it... Do a thorough literature survey... Ask experts working on the most similar thing. Don't be disheartened if you weren't the first; ideas don't have to be original to have value; some ideas need reviving from time to time, or were ahead of their time when first discovered.