The invention is a system and method for calibrating a robotics system. The invention measures the actual performance of the robotics system when positioning objects at several calibration positions within an operational area. The invention then determines corrective factors based on the performance measurements. The robotics system uses the corrective factors to overcome positioning errors and operate in the field with extreme precision. The calibration system comprises a control system, a laser projection device, a plate, and a laser detection device. The robotics system positions the laser projection device to project a laser beam through a hole in the plate and onto a laser detection area on the laser detection device. The control system then directs the robotics system to move the laser projection device to a plurality of calibration positions. The laser detection device detects the laser beam on the laser detection surface when the laser beam is projected through the hole, and detects that the laser beam is not on the laser detection surface when the laser beam is projected onto the plate. The laser detection device provides information indicating the presence or absence of the laser beam to the control system. The control system determines a corrective factor for the robotics system based on the calibration positions and the information provided from the laser detection device.