A laser processing system (100, 200), comprising: a robotic manipulator (170, 270) comprising a stationary base; an end effector (160, 260, 360) actuated by the robotic manipulator, wherein the end effector is adjacent to a workpiece (104, 204, 304); a scanning laser head unit (106, 206) comprising a laser and an optical train (141, 241, 341) configured to move a laser beam (108, 110, 208, 210, 310) over the workpiece to a position (156, 256. 356) in a sample region (155, 255) of the workpiece, wherein the scanning laser head is fixed with respect to the workpiece; characterised by a control unit configured to move the robotic manipulator such that the end effector tracks movement of the laser beam over the workpiece; wherein the robotic manipulator (170, 270) is selected from a delta robot and a cable-suspended robot; wherein the optical train of the scanning laser head unit comprises a galvanometer scanner (141, 241, 341); wherein the end effector (160, 260, 360) is adjacent to the sample region of the workpiece (104, 204, 304), wherein the end effector is selected from at least one of a debris management apparatus, an optical element, a sensor, a radiation emitter and a material dispenser, wherein an end effector supply system (182, 282) is connected to the end effector; and wherein the control unit is configured to move the robotic manipulator to track the position of the laser beam to within a distance (d) of 5 millimeters from the position of the laser beam in the sample region of the workpiece, further wherein the control unit comprises a trajectory generation module that generates, based on laser trajectory and parameters, power signals for a laser control module to control the laser beam, trajectory data for a laser head unit control module to control the scanning laser head unit, and robot position data for a robotic manipulator control module to actuate the robotic manipulator. a robotic manipulator (170, 270) comprising a stationary base; an end effector (160, 260, 360) actuated by the robotic manipulator, wherein the end effector is adjacent to a workpiece (104, 204, 304); a scanning laser head unit (106, 206) comprising a laser and an optical train (141, 241, 341) configured to move a laser beam (108, 110, 208, 210, 310) over the workpiece to a position (156, 256. 356) in a sample region (155, 255) of the workpiece, wherein the scanning laser head is fixed with respect to the workpiece; characterised by a control unit configured to move the robotic manipulator such that the end effector tracks movement of the laser beam over the workpiece; wherein the robotic manipulator (170, 270) is selected from a delta robot and a cable-suspended robot; wherein the optical train of the scanning laser head unit comprises a galvanometer scanner (141, 241, 341); wherein the end effector (160, 260, 360) is adjacent to the sample region of the workpiece (104, 204, 304), wherein the end effector is selected from at least one of a debris management apparatus, an optical element, a sensor, a radiation emitter and a material dispenser, wherein an end effector supply system (182, 282) is connected to the end effector; and wherein the control unit is configured to move the robotic manipulator to track the position of the laser beam to within a distance (d) of 5 millimeters from the position of the laser beam in the sample region of the workpiece, further wherein the control unit comprises a trajectory generation module that generates, based on laser trajectory and parameters, power signals for a laser control module to control the laser beam, trajectory data for a laser head unit control module to control the scanning laser head unit, and robot position data for a robotic manipulator control module to actuate the robotic manipulator.