1. A vision system for an industrial robot, said vision system identifying and determining the location and spatial orientation of an object being viewed and comprising: input means for producing an object signal indicative of said object being viewed; reference generator means for producing a reference signal indicative of a spatial orientation of a desired object to be identified; correlation means for cross-correlating said object signal and said reference signal to produce a correlated signal; and discrimination means for determining the degree of correlation between said object signal and said reference signal, a high degree of correlation indicating that said object being viewed is said desired object to be identified arranged in the spatial orientation of said reference signal; said reference generator means iteratively producing new reference signals indicative of a new spatial orientation of said desired object to be identified for cross-correlation and determination by said correlation means and said discrimination means.