The present disclosure pertains to a system and method for a robotic arm mounted on a mobile base, wherein the robotic arm applies a desired force at a point of contact between an arm and a point in the environment. One method involves low-level, automated coordination, wherein the higher-level decision making is made by a human operator, while another method addresses the variability of success in visual identification of door features, by increasing the reliance on proprioceptive cues such as forces from the door and door hinge and reducing reliance on exteroceptive cues.