A robotic pool cleaner including: a housing; a propulsion mechanism configured to propel the robotic pool cleaner along an interior surface of a pool and a suction mechanism to draw liquid from the pool into the housing. A cable extends outward from the housing and a pull sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of at least a direction in which the cable is pulled. A controller is configured to receive the signal and to operate the propulsion mechanism to propel the robot in accordance with the received signal.