The problem of controlling a system of coordinated redundant robots with torque optimization based on joint redundancy is addressed. Local and global optimal control laws, both minimizing joint torque loading, are developed. A general method of load distribution among the coordinated robots is also proposed. The control problem is to regulate the motion of the object held by the coordinated robots and the internal force generated as a result of constraints on the object. The errors in the object motion and internal force converge asymptotically to zero under the proposed optimal control laws, when exact knowledge of the dynamic models is assumed. Furthermore, the robustness of the proposed method to model uncertainty is also analyzed. The motion and internal force errors are uniformly ultimately bounded under the proposed optimal controllers, when uncertainty in the dynamic models is assumed to exist.