Robotic system and method of movement control using synthetic array radar and passive beacons

A system, comprising:

• a moveable element adapted to move relative to a coordinate system defined for a robot;
• an object detection transceiver unit mounted on the moveable element;
• and
• a controller configured to, in a configuration mode of the robot, determine one or more calibration points based on a location of at least one configuration mode marker within an operational cell of the robot to calibrate the robot, wherein the at least one configuration mode marker is positioned within the operational cell during a set up process in the configuration mode and the controller is configured to collect radar data and marker localization during the set up process, and in an operational mode of the robot, conduct a predetermined operation on each of plural objects that enter the operational cell of the robot, each object having a marker attached thereto, conducting the predetermined operation including:
• control the object detection transceiver unit to conduct a synthetic aperture array scan of the operational cell of the robot by emitting a radar signal and obtaining a return signal for the operational cell of the robot at each of a series of predetermined positions to emulate a transceiver aperture larger than an aperture of the object detection transceiver unit;
• determine a location corresponding to the object based on return signals of the marker attached to the object, the marker being reflective of the signals emitted by the object detection transceiver unit so that return signals reflected by the marker have a larger signal strength than return signals reflected by the object, and the location corresponding to the object is in the coordinate system;
• and
• move the robot in accordance with the determined location to carry out a predetermined automated task on the object with the robot.