Inter-operative switching of tools in a robotic surgical system

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of manipulators; and

a controller configured to:

detect mounting of a first imaging device to a first manipulator of the plurality of manipulators;

determine a first reference frame for the first imaging device based on the mounting of the first imaging device to the first manipulator;

detect mounting of a second imaging device to a second manipulator of the plurality of manipulators;

select the first imaging device as a reference imaging device; and

in response to selecting the first imaging device as the reference imaging device, control the second imaging device relative to the first reference frame.

2. The system of claim 1 , where the controller is configured to select the first imaging device as the reference imaging device in response to the first imaging device being mounted prior to the second imaging device.

3. The system of claim 1 , where the controller is configured to select the first imaging device as the reference imaging device in response to operator selection of the first imaging device as the reference imaging device.

4. The system of claim 1 , where the controller is configured to select the first imaging device as the reference imaging device based on a type of the first imaging device.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first reference frame is a world reference frame.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first reference frame is determined based on kinematics of the first manipulator.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein to control the second imaging device relative to the first reference frame, the controller is configured to teleoperate the second imaging device based on commands received from a master input control.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein to control the second imaging device relative to the first reference frame, the controller is configured to control the second imaging device based on a relative position and orientation of a master input control relative to a user display.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein in response to determining the first reference frame, the controller is configured to move a master input control so that a relative position and orientation of the master input control relative to a user display corresponds to a relative position and orientation of the second imaging device to the first imaging device in the first reference frame.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein control of the second imaging device is further based on kinematics of the second manipulator.

11. A method of controlling a system, the method comprising:

detecting, by a controller of the system, mounting of a first imaging device to a first manipulator of the system;

determining, by the controller, a first reference frame for the first imaging device based on the mounting of the first imaging device to the first manipulator;

detecting, by the controller, mounting of a second imaging device to a second manipulator of the system;

selecting, by the controller, the first imaging device as a reference imaging device; and

in response to selecting the first imaging device as the reference imaging device, controlling, by the controller, the second imaging device relative to the first reference frame.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein selecting the first imaging device as the reference imaging device comprises:

selecting the first imaging device in response to the first imaging device being mounted prior to the second imaging device.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein selecting the first imaging device as the reference imaging device comprises:

selecting the first imaging device in response to operator selection of the first imaging device as the reference imaging device.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein selecting the first imaging device as the reference imaging device comprises:

selecting the first imaging device based on a type of the first imaging device.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first reference frame is a world reference frame or is determined based on kinematics of the first manipulator.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein in response to determining the first reference frame, moving a master input control so that a relative position and orientation of the master input control relative to a user display corresponds to a relative position and orientation of the second imaging device to the first imaging device in the first reference frame.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions which when executed by one or more processors associated with a system are adapted to cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

detecting mounting of a first imaging device to a first manipulator of the system;

determining a first reference frame for the first imaging device based on the mounting of the first imaging device to the first manipulator;

detecting mounting of a second imaging device to a second manipulator of the system;

selecting the first imaging device as a reference imaging device; and

in response to selecting the first imaging device as the reference imaging device, controlling the second imaging device relative to the first reference frame.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein selecting the first imaging device as the reference imaging device comprises selecting the first imaging device:

in response to the first imaging device being mounted prior to the second imaging device; or

in response to operator selection of the first imaging device as the reference imaging device; or

based on a type of the first imaging device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the first reference frame is a world reference frame or is determined based on kinematics of the first manipulator.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein controlling the second imaging device relative to the first reference frame comprises teleoperating the second imaging device based on commands received from a master input control.