The optical recognition system determines the position and/or movement of an object (3) on a positioning device (2). The positioning device includes means (20, 21, 22) for driving the object in rotation and/or along a curvilinear or rectilinear path. The optical recognition system includes optical detection means, such as a digital camera (6), for detecting the position or orientation of the object, and a data processing station (7) for data supplied by the detection means. A certain number of different figures or references are distributed over the external surface of the object. The arrangement of each figure on the external surface of the object enables the detection means, associated with the data processing station, to determine the position or orientation of the object on the positioning device. The figures are formed by circular barcodes (10), wherein each circular barcode defines a precise position of the object (3) on the positioning device.