Low-cost robotics for placement of integrated circuit and method therefor

A method of characterizing an integrated circuit, comprising:

• placing the integrated circuit into a slot of a chip tray;
• moving the integrated circuit between said chip tray and a socket of a test board automatically using a robotic arm system, said robotic arm system comprising a stepper motor, said moving comprising:
• acquiring a location of a chip slot in said chip tray;
• picking the integrated circuit from said slot in said chip tray in response to acquiring said location of said chip slot of the integrated circuit;
• locating said socket of said test board;
• placing the integrated circuit into said socket of said test board using a robotic arm of a robotic arm system, said placing comprising using images obtained from a top camera attached to an end of said robotic arm, and images obtained from a bottom camera between said chip tray and said socket of said test board, to determine at least one offset caused by slippage of said stepper motor, and to correct said offset;
• and performing electrical tests on the integrated circuit, wherein at least one of said acquiring, said picking, and said placing comprises:
• performing image processing on said images to obtain processed images;
• and moving the integrated circuit in response to said processed images.