Honda R&D Europe and 3DiTALY launch HONDA MEETS FABLAB contest 

HONDA MEETS FABLAB is a call for ideas which aims to initiate a dialogue between HONDA R&D Europe and the Fablab world in terms of creativity and co-design, to enhance the experience of a 2-wheeler pilot. The presentation of the contest will take place on Wednesday 22 November from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm at the Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia in Milan.

“The world is changing very fast: recent technological developments especially in terms of connectivity is shaping people’s mind (in particular young people). The 2-Wheelers world still looks far from this revolution. Thanks to the mixture of competences that features the Fab Lab Community and the fact that Fab Lab’s focus is always addressed to the future we would like you to bring the 2-Wheelers in the Digital World” – Luca Caruso, Honda R&D Europe.

Several companies are partnering in the organization of the event. Formlabs, are the producers of the Form2, advanced desktop stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer, which is ideal to prototype jigs, fixtures and production parts of automotive products. Autodesk, in its role as technical partner, is providing the most appropriate 3D CAD modeling tools: Fusion 360 is the first 3D CAD, CAM, and CAE tool of its kind. It connects the entire product development process in a single cloud-based platform. Free for students and startups, Fusion 360 is considered an ideal option for a team working within a Fablab to complete a complex project.

This contest is a great example of how the Maker Culture can generate a co-production process within the workflow of a large company such as HONDA R&D Europe. Annibale D’Elia, an expert of Industry 4.0 and challenges for Government policies will participate as an observer, representing the City of Milan. Industry 4.0 will increasingly enable people to use technology in order to achieve greater autonomy. Governments must cultivate as full an understanding of the future as possible, knowing what the opportunities and risks ahead are, as well as what their applications would be to the world.

The other partners are 3DiTALY and DamA. 3DiTALY, the first professional 3D printing service in Italy, is now a brand specialized in the diffusion of new tools offered by Digital Fabrication in companies and industries. DamA (Digital Arts & Manufacturing Academy), is an educational and research center dedicated to the development of Digital Fabrication capable of meeting the worldwide challenges in the labor market.

Based in Milan, one of the world’s capitals of Design, DamA is a platform for the exchange of knowledge between companies and students. DamA work simultaneously in different areas of expertise (fashion, manufacturing, product design, automotive). 3DiTALY and DamA in the contest assume the role of bridges and mediators between fablab instances and expectations of “HONDA”. 3DiTALY and DamA also participate as facilitators of the process, coordinating the proper running of the competition.