Medical and/or robotic devices, systems and methods can provide an indicator (20) associated with each manipulator assembly (8, 32) of a multi-arm telerobotic or telesurgical system. The exemplary indicator comprises a multi-color light emitting diode (LED) (20) mounted to a manipulator (8, 32) moving an associated surgical instrument, allowing the indicator (20) to display any of a wide variety of signals. The invention provides an additional display (14) viewable by an assistant to facilitate communications between the telesurgical system and/or members of a telesurgical team.
