Patent attributes
User input devices (UIDs) for controlling a surgical robotic system are described. A UID can include one or more tracking sensors to generate respective spatial state signals in accordance with a pose of the UID. At least one of the tracking sensors can be a camera. In the case of multiple tracking sensors, the spatial state signals are processed by a sensor fusion algorithm to generate a more robust, single tracking signal and a quality measure. The tracking signal and the quality measure are then used by a digital control system to control motion of a surgical robotic system actuator that is associated with the UID. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.