Abstract
Astrometry provides basic data for the research of fundamental aspects of Astronomy: Structure and dynamic of the galaxy, cosmic distance scale, dynamic of the planetary system, fundamental constants, rotation of the Earth, etc. In spite of its importance, the progress of the instrumental techniques of Astrometry has been particularly slow. The realization of an inertial reference frame, the most important problem of Astrometry, has not yet been solved with sufficient accuracy. How ever, Astrometry is now in the midst of unprecedented progress due to new techniques of remarkable precision and efficiency: Radioastrometry already in operation and Space Astrometry which will be implemented in the next years. Both techniques promise a revolution in the field of As trometry and those areas of Astrophysics which depend on astrometric parameters. It is expected that the new techniques will provide a solution to the present problems of Astrometry. Nevertheless a wide field of application will remain for the classical techniques,whose results will complement those of the new techniques. This complement will be possible only if full automatic methods are in the classical astrometric instruments.
