An intelligent positioning system for adaptively and intraoperatively positioning an end effector in relation to a target during a medical procedure including: an automated arm assembly including a base frame; an automated arm comprising a multi-joint arm, wherein the automated arm is an individual automated arm of a multi-arm automated system or a single automated arm, the automated arm operably coupled with the base frame and having a distal end configured to detachably couple with a plurality of end effectors , the plurality end effectors configured to couple with one or more imaging devices for facilitating switching among a plurality of distinct imaging modalities; a weight operably coupled with the base frame, the weight operable as a counterweight in relation to the automated arm ; a protective dome attached with the automated arm , wherein movement of the distal end of the automated arm is constrained within the protective dome ; and a control system operably coupled with the automated arm , the control system configured to couple with a detection system , the detection system configured to provide information relating to a position of a target, and the control system configured to identify a position and an orientation of the target in a predetermined coordinate frame; obtain a position and an orientation for an end effector on the automated arm assembly, the position and the orientation defined in the predetermined coordinate frame; obtain a desired standoff distance and a desired orientation between the target and the end effector ; determine a new position and a new orientation for the end effector from the position and the orientation of the target and the desired standoff distance ; instruct the automated arm to move the end effector , to the new position and the new orientation; and wherein the control system is configured to include in the determination of the new position and new orientation of the end-effector a desired focus and desired zoom level for the imaging device. an automated arm assembly including a base frame; an automated arm comprising a multi-joint arm, wherein the automated arm is an individual automated arm of a multi-arm automated system or a single automated arm, the automated arm operably coupled with the base frame and having a distal end configured to detachably couple with a plurality of end effectors , the plurality end effectors configured to couple with one or more imaging devices for facilitating switching among a plurality of distinct imaging modalities; a weight operably coupled with the base frame, the weight operable as a counterweight in relation to the automated arm ; a protective dome attached with the automated arm , wherein movement of the distal end of the automated arm is constrained within the protective dome ; and a control system operably coupled with the automated arm , the control system configured to couple with a detection system , the detection system configured to provide information relating to a position of a target, and the control system configured to identify a position and an orientation of the target in a predetermined coordinate frame; obtain a position and an orientation for an end effector on the automated arm assembly, the position and the orientation defined in the predetermined coordinate frame; obtain a desired standoff distance and a desired orientation between the target and the end effector ; determine a new position and a new orientation for the end effector from the position and the orientation of the target and the desired standoff distance ; instruct the automated arm to move the end effector , to the new position and the new orientation; and wherein the control system is configured to include in the determination of the new position and new orientation of the end-effector a desired focus and desired zoom level for the imaging device. <EOS>