A method for controlling a robotic arm in a robotic surgical system includes defining a reference plane at a predetermined reference location for a robotic arm, where the robotic arm includes a plurality of joints, and driving at least one of the plurality of joints to guide the robotic arm through a series of predetermined poses substantially constrained within the reference plane.

A computer-assisted medical system includes a manipulator arm and a controller. The controller includes a computer processor and is configured to determine a kinematic configuration, the kinematic configuration being prior to an installation of a replacement tool on the manipulator arm. The kinematic configuration is of the manipulator arm and a previous tool attached to the manipulator arm and with an end effector of the previous tool located at an insertion location. The controller is further configured to determine a reference geometry of the previous tool in the kinematic configuration, determine an insertion trajectory for the replacement tool based on the reference geometry, and facilitate an insertion of the replacement tool toward a target location of the insertion trajectory by controlling the replacement tool to move in accordance with the insertion trajectory.

A method for controlling a robotic arm in a robotic surgical system includes defining a reference plane at a predetermined reference location for a robotic arm, where the robotic arm includes a plurality of joints, and driving at least one of the plurality of joints to guide the robotic arm through a series of predetermined poses substantially constrained within the reference plane.

A method for controlling a robotic arm in a robotic surgical system includes defining a reference plane at a predetermined reference location for a robotic arm, where the robotic arm includes a plurality of joints, and driving at least one of the plurality of joints to guide the robotic arm through a series of predetermined poses substantially constrained within the reference plane.

A method for controlling a robotic arm in a robotic surgical system includes defining a reference plane at a predetermined reference location for a robotic arm, where the robotic arm includes a plurality of joints, and driving at least one of the plurality of joints to guide the robotic arm through a series of predetermined poses substantially constrained within the reference plane.

A computer-implemented method includes monitoring a current location of a mobile robot in a physical space, which includes a first area separated from a second area by a selectively permeable virtual membrane, and a software requirement corresponding to the mobile robot with regard to the second area. The method further includes identifying a software state of the mobile robot that matches the software requirement, determining whether the software state of the mobile robot meets the software requirement, and allowing the mobile robot to move from the first area to the second area through the selectively permeable virtual membrane in response to determining whether the software state of the mobile robot meets the software requirement.

A method for controlling a robotic arm in a robotic surgical system includes defining a reference plane at a predetermined reference location for a robotic arm, where the robotic arm includes a plurality of joints, and driving at least one of the plurality of joints to guide the robotic arm through a series of predetermined poses substantially constrained within the reference plane.

A computer-implemented method includes monitoring a current location of a mobile robot in a physical space, which includes a first area separated from a second area by a selectively permeable virtual membrane, and a software requirement corresponding to the mobile robot with regard to the second area. The method further includes identifying a software state of the mobile robot that matches the software requirement, determining whether the software state of the mobile robot meets the software requirement, and allowing the mobile robot to move from the first area to the second area through the selectively permeable virtual membrane in response to determining whether the software state of the mobile robot meets the software requirement.

Disclosed techniques include a computer-assisted device having an input control, a functional structure, and a processing system. The functional structure is configured to include a repositionable structure, and the repositionable structure is configured to support an instrument. The processing system is configured to receive a movement command from the input control, update a pose of a proxy based on the movement command and a proxy constraint, and cause the functional structure to move based on the updated pose of the proxy. In some embodiments, the input control controls a pose of a virtual leader device. The processing system updates a pose of a proxy based on the pose of the virtual leader device, updates a pose of a virtual follower device based on the updated pose of the proxy, and causes the functional structure to move based on the pose of the virtual follower device.

A machine that has at least one actuated mechanism is remotely located from a control station. A two way real-time communication link connects the machine location with the control station. An interface at the control station allows an operator to select one or more virtual constraints on operation of the machine when the machine is performing a predetermined function. The virtual constraints are transmitted over the two way real-time communication link to the machine location. The machine has predetermined safety limits that are stored in a controlling device at the machine location. The stored predetermined safety limits are extracted and automatically mapped to the control station using the two way real-time communication link. The controlling device maps the predetermined safety limits to the virtual constraints.