A computer controlled robot system for positioning a patient for radiation therapy or other medical procedures and the like. The robot is mounted at the top of a vertical shaft extending from the treatment room floor and includes horizontal arms arranged to maximize the available work envelope and eliminate dead spots in the envelope that the robot cannot reach. A double redundant coupling system for coupling devices to the robot is provided. A vision based docking system is employed for automatically coupling devices to the robot. Various enhanced safety features are provided, including device specific collision avoidance.

A computer controlled robot system for positioning a patient for radiation therapy or other medical procedures and the like. The robot is mounted at the top of a vertical shaft extending from the treatment room floor and includes horizontal arms arranged to maximize the available work envelope and eliminate dead spots in the envelope that the robot cannot reach. A double redundant coupling system for coupling devices to the robot is provided. A vision based docking system is employed for automatically coupling devices to the robot. Various enhanced safety features are provided, including device specific collision avoidance.

A joint structure capable of optimizing a margin of length of an umbilical member corresponding to a motion range of a forearm, and an industrial robot having the joint structure. At an upper section (near the forearm) of an upper arm, a frame constituting the upper arm has an opening through which the umbilical member can be inserted, and the umbilical member 28 inserted from the opening into a space (or containing section) within the upper arm. By virtue of such a containing section, even when the motion range of the forearm is changed, an operator can adjust (optimize) the margin of length of the umbilical member required for the motion of the forearm.