A remotely operable medical system uses a sensor to measure a pose of a catheter and a control system coupled to a mechanical system. The control system has multiple operating modes including a holding mode in which the control system uses sensor feedback and operates the mechanical system to maintain a working configuration. A vision probe can be used to steer and pose the catheter, and then be removed and replaced with the medical probe when a medical task such as a lung biopsy is performed. Functionality for the system can be divided between the catheter and the vision probe. The sensor may include an electromagnetic sensor to measure a first section and a fiber shape sensor to measure a second smaller section.
