Selectively Automated Robotic Surgical System

Robotic surgical systems and methods for resection of an anatomy. The system includes a cutting tool, a manipulator configured to move the cutting tool, and a control system. The control system associates a target plane with the anatomy, the target plane delineating a portion of the anatomy to be resected from a portion of the anatomy to remain unresected. The control system controls the manipulator to align the cutting tool to the target plane. The control system controls the manipulator in an automated mode to perform at least one of the following actions: automatically resect along the target plane with the cutting tool, automatically retract the cutting tool along the target plane, and automatically change a pose of the cutting tool on the target plane. The user or control system can pre-assign whether to perform any of the actions in the manual or automated mode.