Abstract
Some of the most successful integrated robotic systems now in operation are found in pharmaceutical laboratories. Our cover story this issue (page 6) describes the system recently installed by Ligand Pharmaceuticals that features a CRS robotic arm coupled with a number of peripheral devices: a CRS pipettor, a Robbins pipettor (see page 19), a Hot Pack incubator, a Cambridge luminometer, a Symbol barcode scanner, and a Biotek plate washer. This system was created to perform cell-based screening assays. It is an excellent example of the progress has been made in the last several years in developing versatile and intelligent automated systems using components from a variety of vendors. Furthermore, coupling artificial intelligence with the automation provides a complete circle of creation, screening, and rational selection. For example, 3-Dimensional Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has been awarded a patent for their proprietary generation of new drug leads through computer-controlled, iterative robotic synthesis and analysis of combinatorial chemical libraries. Laboratory Automation News is committed to bringing you examples of successful systems and the vendors who can supply the hardware, software, and systems engineering expertise to facilitate your robotics projects. We encourage other investigators within the pharmaceutical field to submit a general description of their novel automated systems to the LAN editorial board for consideration for publication.
The international automation conference, Lab Automation, has been organized for 1997. We have an extensive exhibition area with over 60 booths demonstrating the latest in automation technology. The plenary speaker will be Joseph Engelberger (Beckman Award Lecture), who is considered the father of modern industrial robotics. His early efforts to create and use manufacturing robotics inspired the creation of today's laboratory robotics. He will speak about the robotics industry in general and give his optimistic perspective of the future of robotics. A number of dynamic speakers have been lined up to cover a diverse range of topics. Submit your abstracts to be considered for oral or poster presentation. The most exciting and well written abstracts will be selected by the Scientific Committee for oral presentation on Tuesday, January 18 during the simultaneous sessions. In addition, a group of authors will be selected by the Scientific Committee for free registration. We look forward to seeing you in San Diego in January!
Sincerely,
Robin A. Felder