A system comprises a medical tool including a shaft having proximal and distal ends and an articulatable distal portion coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The system also comprises a processing unit including one or more processors. The processing unit is configured to determine a target in a medical environment. The articulatable distal portion is directed toward the target. The processing unit is also configured to determine a motion of at least a portion of the shaft, and in response to the determined motion, control a pose of the articulatable distal portion so that the articulatable distal portion remains directed toward the target.
