Automated guidance and recognition system and method of the same

A system for moving a servo actuated manipulator without a calibration target, comprising:

• a servo actuated manipulator configured to perform a function;
• a camera mounted on or in fixed relation with a face plate of the manipulator;
• a manipulator controller configured to move the manipulator;
• and
• a recognition system configured to:
• signal the manipulator controller to move the manipulator from a work position at a reference work piece to a distance “A” between the reference work piece and the manipulator along a coordinate axis of the reference work piece,
• acquire a two dimensional image via the camera of at least a portion of the reference work piece,
• learn the reference work piece based on the two dimensional image and the distance “A” associated with the reference work piece, and
• with the introduction of a production workpiece, signal the manipulator controller to move the manipulator to a work position at the production work piece based on the learning of the reference work piece and the distance “A” associated with the reference work piece.