System and method for a robotic manipulator system

A robotic arm deployment and control system, comprising:

• a robotic arm comprising at least two segments joined by an elbow, wherein a first segment is operably configured as a vertical mast, and a second segment is operably configured to deploy tools from a working end;
• a mast deployment system comprising at least two cams, wherein the at least two cams cause the first and second segments to remain vertical during deployment into an operating space;
• a non-contact sensor affixed to the first segment for measuring range and bearing to objects contained within the operating space in polar coordinates;
• a dynamic measurement unit comprising at least three accelerometers and three rate sensors, wherein the dynamic measurement unit is operably configured as a six-degree of freedom three axis sensor configured to operate in a Cartesian coordinate system;
• a controller operably configured to:
• receive the polar coordinates from the non-contact sensor and Cartesian coordinates from the dynamic measurement unit,
• convert the polar coordinates to Cartesian coordinates based on the Cartesian location of the non-contact sensor and dynamic measurement unit.