A computer-assisted medical device includes an articulated arm with a plurality of joints and a control unit coupled to the articulated arm. The control unit is configured to send a command to a plurality of brakes in the articulated arm to begin a release of the plurality of brakes in a predetermined staggered manner. In some embodiments the predetermined staggered manner prevents the simultaneous release of the plurality of breaks. In some examples, the predetermined staggered manner causes each brake in the plurality of brakes to release within a predetermined time of each other. In some embodiments, the first predetermined staggered manner causes each brake in the first plurality of brakes to release within a predetermined time of each other. In some embodiments, the first predetermined staggered manner causes each brake in the first plurality of brakes to begin a gradual release within a predetermined time of each other.