A robotic system is described for determining and using an insertion force threshold to avoid too much force being applied to a flexible instrument placed within a patient. The robotic system comprises a medical instrument comprising an elongate body, and further comprises a robotic arm coupled to the instrument as well as a controller configured to receive instrument data based in part on a current location of the elongate body, access patient data associated with the patient, determine an insertion force threshold, receive an insertion force detected by a force sensor coupled to the robotic arm, compare the insertion force with the insertion force threshold, and responsive to the insertion force exceeding the force threshold, generate a recommendation signal for the robotic system.
