Apparatus and method are provided for automatically controlling the position of one or more objects. The apparatus comprises a position control network which receives macro-type movement commands from a mainframe computer. The network includes a plurality of interface processors each adapted to provide a plurality of micro-commands in response to each macro-command. The micro-commands are supplied to motion controllers which in turn control the movement of servomotors. The servomotors position the object. Position encoders are provided to monitor the position of the objects and provide position data to the interface processor for transmission to the mainframe computer. A novel method is disclosed which employs the foregoing apparatus to provide synchronous motion of two or more objects.