Automatic distribution of control functions between multiple knob controllers based on proximity and relative positioning of the knobs

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a computing device to perform functions comprising:

• detecting that a first controller is within at least a threshold distance of a second controller, wherein the first and second controllers are each configurable to operate at least one component of a robotic device;
• in response to at least the detecting, determining a spatial arrangement of the first and second controllers;
• determining a set of operational modes that corresponds to the spatial arrangement, wherein the set comprises at least (i) a first operational mode that corresponds to a first location in the spatial arrangement and (ii) a second operational mode that corresponds to a second location in the spatial arrangement;
• and
• loading (i) the first operational mode to whichever of the first and second controllers is in the first location in the spatial arrangement and (ii) the second operational mode to whichever of the first and second controllers is in the second location in the spatial arrangement.

A computing system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a non-transitory computer readable medium;
• and
• program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by the one or more processors to:
• detect that a first controller is within at least a threshold distance of a second controller, wherein the first and second controllers are each configurable to operate at least one component of a robotic device;
• in response to at least the detecting, determine a spatial arrangement of the first and second controllers;
• determine a set of operational modes that corresponds to the spatial arrangement, wherein the set comprises at least (i) a first operational mode that corresponds to a first location in the spatial arrangement and (ii) a second operational mode that corresponds to a second location in the spatial arrangement;
• and
• load (i) the first operational mode to whichever of the first and second controllers is in the first location in the spatial arrangement and (ii) the second operational mode to whichever of the first and second controllers is in the second location in the spatial arrangement.