SURGICAL SYSTEM AND METHOD UTILIZING IMPULSE MODELING FOR CONTROLLING AN INSTRUMENT

A surgical system for applying an energy applicator to a target tissue and methods operating the same are disclosed. The energy applicator extends from a surgical instrument. The surgical system comprises a sensor to measure external forces and torques placed on the surgical instrument. A surgical manipulator is configured to move the energy applicator in a manual mode in response to the external forces and torques. At least one controller is configured to: model the surgical instrument and the energy applicator as a virtual rigid body having a virtual mass; calculate, using impulse modeling, constraining forces and torques to be applied to the virtual rigid body; determine total forces and torques based on the external forces and torques and the constraining forces and torques; and advance the energy applicator in the manual mode based on the total forces and torques.