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LRA, Vol. 9, p. 1

Editorial Notes

We welcome you to the first issue of the 9th yearof publication of Laboratory Robotics and Automa-tion. This issue contains articles on a variety of topicsof interest to those active in laboratory automation.1997 promises to be another interesting year for lab-oratory automation, and one cannot but believe thatthere will be additional consolidations within thecore technologies. In 1997, we plan to continue ourpractice of dispersing focused issues with regular is-sues of the journal. Several manuscripts are in pro-duction on the topic of storage retrieval systems forlaboratory robotics with additional contributions ontopics related to applications of automation in envi-ronmental analysis in various stages of production.

We look forward to some exciting developments forthe journal with the introduction of a journal websitewhere you will be able to contact the journal directlyvia an E-mail link and also obtain information onother links related to laboratory automation. OurURL and other related information will be includedin the next issue of the journal. One of the goals ofthe journal is continual improvement, and with thatgoal in mind, I welcome any comments you mighthave about additional features you would like to seecovered and also those sections of the journal thatyou feel might have become less useful. I look for-ward to your thoughts and to the 9th year of the jour-nal.