Control of low-cost robotics and method therefor

A robotic arm system, comprising:

• a robotic arm having at least one stepper motor and operable to move an end of said robotic arm in X-, Y-, and Z-dimensions, wherein said at least one stepper motor allows slippage at a load which cannot harm a human operator;
• a camera attached to said robotic arm;
• and
• a controller coupled to said robotic arm and to said camera, wherein during configuration said controller moves said end of said robotic arm to a reference point to obtain initial reference coordinates and a reference image, and to a target location to obtain initial target coordinates, and during operation moves said robotic arm according to said initial reference coordinates, adjusts a position of said robotic arm to an actual reference location using said camera to determine actual reference coordinates, and moves said robotic arm to an actual target location using said initial target coordinates and a difference between said initial reference coordinates and said actual reference coordinates.