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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   ----------

                                  FORM 10-K/A-2

(Mark One)

|X|  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
     ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996

                                       OR

|_|  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____________________ to _______________________

                         Commission file number 0-8623
                          ROBOTIC VISION SYSTEMS, INC.
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             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                     Delaware                                  11-2400145
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          (State or other jurisdiction of                   (I.R.S. Employer
           incorporation or organization)                  Identification No.)

425 Rabro Drive East, Hauppauge, New York                        11788
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(Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code  (516) 273-9700

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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                                        Name or each exchange on which
     Title of each class                          registered
     -------------------                          ----------

           None
-----------------------------------     -----------------------------------

-----------------------------------     -----------------------------------

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                     Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
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                                (Title of class)

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                                (Title of class)

     Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes |X| No |_|

     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K |_|

             APPLICABLE ONLY TO REGISTRANTS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
                  PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:

     Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has filed all documents and
are reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan
confirmed by a court. Yes |_| No |_|

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     The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant's common stock is
20,736,251 (as of 12/13/96).

     The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the
Registrant is $286,939,967 (as of 12/13/96).

                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

                                      NONE

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<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Amendment to the
Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized,
in the Village of Hauppauge, State of New York, on the 29th day of January,
1997.

                                                ROBOTIC VISION SYSTEMS, INC.



                                                By: /s/ Robert H. Walker
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Robert H. Walker
                                                    Executive Vice President




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