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Effector Lab

Which effector

Which effector for the flanged bushing?

Every available effector family grasped the flanged bushing (36 x 36 x 35 mm, 91 g) on the same four placements and two seeds; the best two of each group were certified on the same 18 tests. The headline asks for a registered grasp: lifted, held 2 s and back in the same pose (within 0.75 mm, 2 deg) whatever the placement error.

Recommendation

Recommended (registered)

Parallel jaw, configurator imprint

Parallel jawCoreprimitive jaw

Highest registered certificate score of the 9 eligible candidates (1.00, next 0.78), tolerating 3 mm placement error on both axes.

Certificate (registered)
1.00 (18/18 tests)
Certificate (held)
1.00
Placement tolerance
±3 mm both axes
Screen
100% registered, 100% held of 8
Actuators
1
Mass
62 g
Declared limits
Grip force 50 N

Product mode: not part of the pre-registered experiment

If held is enough

Parallel jaw, configurator imprint

Parallel jawCoreprimitive jaw

Ties with Soft arm, 16 segments, 160 mm on held certificate score (1.00), tolerance (3 mm placement error on both axes) and screen success (100%), and is simpler: 62 g against 99 g.

Certificate (held)
1.00 (18/18 tests)
Certificate (registered)
1.00
Placement tolerance
±3 mm both axes
Screen
100% registered, 100% held of 8
Actuators
1
Mass
62 g
Declared limits
Grip force 50 N

Product mode: not part of the pre-registered experiment

The finalists, side by side

One condition for every lane: 3 mm off centre across (train_v2/flanged_bushing/c2, seed 1811192003167628491), on one clock. Each lane re-ran its scored screen episode with recording on and reproduced it bit for bit. Bodies are drawn from the collision shapes the simulator used.

t 00.00 / 00.00 s

Phase Settle

  1. Settle
  2. Descend
Recommended · Best for held · Best ReferenceParallel jaw, configurator imprint

Loading replay

Parallel jaw, configurator imprint: Registered. Peak lift 149.4 mm.

Parallel jawCoreHeld: yes · Registered: yes
Best CatalogTwo-finger parallel gripper, rigid pads A

Loading replay

Two-finger parallel gripper, rigid pads A: Held, not registered. Peak lift 146.9 mm.

Industrial gripperRigid modelHeld: yes · Registered: noLow grip at published settings: the upstream model limits the gripper actuator to 4.1 N, left unmodified (hardware may differ)
Best Soft armSoft arm, 16 segments, 160 mm

Loading replay

Soft arm, 16 segments, 160 mm: Registered. Peak lift 149.7 mm.

Soft armApproximationHeld: yes · Registered: yes
Best SuctionSuction cup, 16 mm bellows

Loading replay

Suction cup, 16 mm bellows: Missed grasp. Peak lift 0.0 mm.

Suction cupApproximationHeld: no · Registered: no
Best Designed (Nemotron)Designed three-finger hand, 2 joints per finger 66f1

Loading replay

Designed three-finger hand, 2 joints per finger 66f1: Held, not registered. Peak lift 188.2 mm.

Designed morphologyRigid modelHeld: yes · Registered: no
Best Random controlDesigned two-finger sliding hook gripper aa75

Loading replay

Designed two-finger sliding hook gripper aa75: Registered. Peak lift 149.8 mm.

Designed morphologyRigid modelHeld: yes · Registered: yes

Families

Parallel jaw

Core

The open-source parallel gripper of the core experiment, with its entrant fingers.

Best here: Parallel jaw, configurator imprint · screen 100% registered, 100% held

3 candidates, 3 screened

The core experiment's own scene, checks and scorer. Registration is measured against the jaw's centre line.

Product mode: not part of the pre-registered experiment

Multi-finger hand

Rigid model

Open multi-finger hand models, palm down, closed by scripted power and pinch synergies.

Best here: Five-finger 18-actuator hand, pinch · screen 0% registered, 0% held

6 candidates, 6 screened

Simplified rigid models with no skin compliance, driven by scripted open-to-closed synergies: no tactile feedback, no regrasp. Actuator limits are the upstream model's. Rubber pads would grip better than the part's mu 0.3 used here, so results are conservative for padded hands.

Product mode: not part of the pre-registered experiment

Industrial gripper

Rigid model

Open two-finger grippers and procedural two- and three-finger adaptive grippers.

Best here: Two-finger parallel gripper, rigid pads A · screen 38% registered, 100% heldLow grip at published settings: the upstream model limits the gripper actuator to 4.1 N, left unmodified (hardware may differ)

6 candidates, 6 screened

Rigid models with the upstream actuator limits; the adaptive grippers are our own geometry. Scripted closing, no tactile feedback.

Product mode: not part of the pre-registered experiment

Soft arm

Approximation

An octopus-style tentacle: spring-jointed segments curled by a cable.

Best here: Soft arm, 16 segments, 160 mm · screen 88% registered, 100% held

4 candidates, 4 screened

Approximation: a chain of rigid capsules with spring-damper joints, curled by a tension-limited cable. Not modelled: continuum mechanics, material non-linearity, suckers. Verify on hardware.

Product mode: not part of the pre-registered experiment

Suction cup

Approximation

A suction cup on a short bellows, its vacuum switched on only while the lip seals.

Best here: Suction cup, 16 mm bellows · screen 0% registered, 0% held

6 candidates, 6 screened

Approximation: the seal is a geometric test gating an adhesion actuator capped at vacuum times lip area. Not modelled: air flow, leaks, porosity, vacuum build-up time, lip hysteresis. Treat as a screen, then verify on hardware.

Product mode: not part of the pre-registered experiment

Designed morphology

Rigid model

Fingered morphologies proposed by Nemotron, with a random control from the same space.

Best here: Designed three-finger hand, 2 joints per finger 66f1 · screen 88% registered, 100% held

4 candidates, 4 screened

Rigid models generated from a recipe and driven by scripted synergies. The random control from the same space is shown beside the Nemotron designs; no superiority is claimed.

Product mode: not part of the pre-registered experiment

Ranking (registered)

Eligible: certified, the nominal grasp passes, no simulator reset and no penetration over 1 mm in the nominal test. Ranked by certificate score, then the smaller placement tolerance, then screen success; within 0.05 and the same tolerance the simpler effector wins (fewer actuators, then lower mass, then higher fidelity).

#EffectorGroupCertificateToleranceScreenActuatorsMassEligible
1Parallel jaw, configurator imprintParallel jaw CoreReference1.00±3 mm both axes100%162 gyes
2Designed three-finger hand, 2 joints per finger 66f1Designed morphology Rigid modelDesigned (Nemotron)0.780 mm across, ±3 mm along88%6166 gyes
3Parallel jaw, flat padParallel jaw CoreReference0.680 mm across, ±3 mm along38%136 gyes
4Designed two-finger sliding hook gripper aa75Designed morphology Rigid modelRandom control0.68±3 mm across, 0 mm along100%2830 gyes
5Designed two-finger sliding hook gripper d636Designed morphology Rigid modelRandom control0.46±2 mm across, 0 mm along88%2291 gyes
6Soft arm, 16 segments, 160 mmSoft arm ApproximationSoft arm0.43±1 mm both axes88%199 gyes
7Two-finger parallel gripper, rigid pads AIndustrial gripper Rigid modelLow grip at published settings: the upstream model limits the gripper actuator to 4.1 N, left unmodified (hardware may differ)Catalog0.400 mm across, ±3 mm along38%1725 gyes
8Two-finger adaptive gripper, pinchIndustrial gripper Rigid modelCatalog0.360 mm both axes38%2370 gyes
9Soft arm, 20 soft segments, 180 mmSoft arm ApproximationSoft arm0.21±1 mm both axes63%1103 gyes
–Designed soft arm, 16 segments, 120 mmSoft arm ApproximationDesigned (Nemotron)0.00none0%191 gthe certificate's nominal grasp is not registered (not_registered)
–Suction cup, 16 mm bellowsSuction cup ApproximationSuction0.00none0%155 gthe certificate's nominal grasp is not registered (missed_grasp)
–Suction cup, 10 mm bellowsSuction cup ApproximationSuction0.00none0%147 gthe certificate's nominal grasp is not registered (missed_grasp)
–Three-finger adaptive gripper, power graspIndustrial gripper Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a38%3430 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Two-finger parallel gripper, fin-ray padsIndustrial gripper Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a38%11720 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Three-finger adaptive gripper, pinchIndustrial gripper Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a38%3430 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Two-finger adaptive gripper, power graspIndustrial gripper Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a13%2370 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Designed suction cup, 20 mmSuction cup ApproximationRandom controln/an/a0%160 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Five-finger 18-actuator hand, pinchMulti-finger hand Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a0%18694 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Designed suction cup, 30 mmSuction cup ApproximationDesigned (Nemotron)n/an/a0%181 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Five-finger 22-joint hand, pinchMulti-finger hand Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a0%221315 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Five-finger 22-joint hand, power graspMulti-finger hand Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a0%221315 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Five-finger 18-actuator hand, power graspMulti-finger hand Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a0%18694 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Four-finger 16-joint hand, power graspMulti-finger hand Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a0%16645 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Designed three-finger hand, 2 joints per finger d0b2Designed morphology Rigid modelDesigned (Nemotron)n/an/a0%697 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Suction cup, 25 mm bellowsSuction cup ApproximationSuctionn/an/a0%170 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Soft arm, 12 segments, 140 mmSoft arm ApproximationSoft armn/an/a0%196 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Four-finger 16-joint hand, pinchMulti-finger hand Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a0%16645 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Parallel jaw, stock bladeParallel jaw CoreReferencen/an/a0%114 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Designed suction cup, 35 mmSuction cup ApproximationRandom controln/an/a0%193 gnot certified (not a finalist)
Ranking (held)
#EffectorGroupCertificateToleranceScreenActuatorsMassEligible
1Parallel jaw, configurator imprintParallel jaw CoreReference1.00±3 mm both axes100%162 gyes
2Soft arm, 16 segments, 160 mmSoft arm ApproximationSoft arm1.00±3 mm both axes100%199 gyes
3Soft arm, 20 soft segments, 180 mmSoft arm ApproximationSoft arm1.00±3 mm both axes100%1103 gyes
4Designed three-finger hand, 2 joints per finger 66f1Designed morphology Rigid modelDesigned (Nemotron)0.97±1 mm across, ±3 mm along100%6166 gyes
5Parallel jaw, flat padParallel jaw CoreReference0.83±3 mm both axes100%136 gyes
6Designed soft arm, 16 segments, 120 mmSoft arm ApproximationDesigned (Nemotron)0.83±3 mm both axes100%191 gyes
7Two-finger adaptive gripper, pinchIndustrial gripper Rigid modelCatalog0.83±3 mm both axes100%2370 gyes
8Designed two-finger sliding hook gripper aa75Designed morphology Rigid modelRandom control0.83±3 mm both axes100%2830 gyes
9Two-finger parallel gripper, rigid pads AIndustrial gripper Rigid modelLow grip at published settings: the upstream model limits the gripper actuator to 4.1 N, left unmodified (hardware may differ)Catalog0.67±3 mm both axes100%1725 gyes
10Designed two-finger sliding hook gripper d636Designed morphology Rigid modelRandom control0.67±3 mm both axes100%2291 gyes
–Suction cup, 16 mm bellowsSuction cup ApproximationSuction0.00none0%155 gthe certificate's nominal grasp is not held (missed_grasp)
–Suction cup, 10 mm bellowsSuction cup ApproximationSuction0.00none0%147 gthe certificate's nominal grasp is not held (missed_grasp)
–Three-finger adaptive gripper, power graspIndustrial gripper Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a100%3430 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Three-finger adaptive gripper, pinchIndustrial gripper Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a100%3430 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Two-finger adaptive gripper, power graspIndustrial gripper Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a100%2370 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Designed three-finger hand, 2 joints per finger d0b2Designed morphology Rigid modelDesigned (Nemotron)n/an/a100%697 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Soft arm, 12 segments, 140 mmSoft arm ApproximationSoft armn/an/a100%196 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Four-finger 16-joint hand, pinchMulti-finger hand Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a100%16645 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Two-finger parallel gripper, fin-ray padsIndustrial gripper Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a75%11720 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Four-finger 16-joint hand, power graspMulti-finger hand Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a38%16645 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Parallel jaw, stock bladeParallel jaw CoreReferencen/an/a13%114 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Designed suction cup, 20 mmSuction cup ApproximationRandom controln/an/a0%160 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Five-finger 18-actuator hand, pinchMulti-finger hand Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a0%18694 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Designed suction cup, 30 mmSuction cup ApproximationDesigned (Nemotron)n/an/a0%181 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Five-finger 22-joint hand, pinchMulti-finger hand Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a0%221315 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Five-finger 22-joint hand, power graspMulti-finger hand Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a0%221315 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Five-finger 18-actuator hand, power graspMulti-finger hand Rigid modelCatalogn/an/a0%18694 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Suction cup, 25 mm bellowsSuction cup ApproximationSuctionn/an/a0%170 gnot certified (not a finalist)
–Designed suction cup, 35 mmSuction cup ApproximationRandom controln/an/a0%193 gnot certified (not a finalist)

Certificates

The pre-registered battery, unchanged: the nominal grasp, the part 1, 2 and 3 mm off where the wrist aims on both axes, a 1 g shake on three axes and a 0.5 N s push at the part's top on two. Green: registered; amber dash: held but not registered; red: dropped. Jitter is off.

Parallel jaw, flat padregistered 0.68 (11/18) · held 0.83 (17/18) · reference analytic
Axis-3-2-10+1+2+3tol. reg / held
acrossheld, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)registeredheld, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)0 / 3 mm
alongregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregistered3 / 3 mm
  • registeredshake x
  • registeredshake y
  • registeredshake z
  • Dropped during holdpush x
  • registeredpush y
Parallel jaw, configurator imprintregistered 1.00 (18/18) · held 1.00 (18/18) · reference analytic
Axis-3-2-10+1+2+3tol. reg / held
acrossregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregistered3 / 3 mm
alongregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregistered3 / 3 mm
  • registeredshake x
  • registeredshake y
  • registeredshake z
  • registeredpush x
  • registeredpush y
Two-finger parallel gripper, rigid pads Aregistered 0.40 (9/18) · held 0.67 (16/18) · reference nominal episode
Axis-3-2-10+1+2+3tol. reg / held
acrossheld, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)registeredheld, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)0 / 3 mm
alongregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregistered3 / 3 mm
  • held, not registered (tilt_after_hold)shake x
  • registeredshake y
  • registeredshake z
  • Dropped during holdpush x
  • Dropped during holdpush y
Two-finger adaptive gripper, pinchregistered 0.36 (4/18) · held 0.83 (17/18) · reference nominal episode
Axis-3-2-10+1+2+3tol. reg / held
acrossheld, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)registeredheld, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)0 / 3 mm
alongheld, not registered (off centre, tilt_after_hold)held, not registered (off centre, tilt_after_hold)held, not registered (off centre, tilt_after_hold)registeredheld, not registered (off centre, tilt_after_hold)held, not registered (off centre, tilt_after_hold)held, not registered (off centre, tilt_after_hold)0 / 3 mm
  • registeredshake x
  • registeredshake y
  • registeredshake z
  • Dropped during holdpush x
  • held, not registered (tilt_after_hold)push y
Soft arm, 16 segments, 160 mmregistered 0.43 (10/18) · held 1.00 (18/18) · reference nominal episode
Axis-3-2-10+1+2+3tol. reg / held
acrossregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredheld, not registered (tilt_after_hold)held, not registered (tilt_after_hold)1 / 3 mm
alongheld, not registered (off centre, tilt_after_hold)held, not registered (off centre, tilt_after_hold)registeredregisteredregisteredregisteredheld, not registered (off centre, tilt_after_hold)1 / 3 mm
  • held, not registered (tilt_after_hold)shake x
  • registeredshake y
  • registeredshake z
  • held, not registered (tilt_after_hold)push x
  • held, not registered (tilt_after_hold)push y
Soft arm, 20 soft segments, 180 mmregistered 0.21 (8/18) · held 1.00 (18/18) · reference nominal episode
Axis-3-2-10+1+2+3tol. reg / held
acrossregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredheld, not registered (tilt_after_hold)held, not registered (tilt_after_hold)1 / 3 mm
alongregisteredheld, not registered (tilt_after_hold)registeredregisteredregisteredheld, not registered (tilt_after_hold)held, not registered (tilt_after_hold)1 / 3 mm
  • held, not registered (tilt_after_hold)shake x
  • held, not registered (tilt_after_hold)shake y
  • held, not registered (tilt_after_hold)shake z
  • held, not registered (tilt_after_hold)push x
  • held, not registered (tilt_after_hold)push y
Suction cup, 10 mm bellowsregistered 0.00 (0/18) · held 0.00 (0/18) · reference none
Axis-3-2-10+1+2+3tol. reg / held
acrossMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspnone / none mm
alongMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspnone / none mm
  • Missed graspshake x
  • Missed graspshake y
  • Missed graspshake z
  • Missed grasppush x
  • Missed grasppush y
Suction cup, 16 mm bellowsregistered 0.00 (0/18) · held 0.00 (0/18) · reference none
Axis-3-2-10+1+2+3tol. reg / held
acrossMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspnone / none mm
alongMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspMissed graspnone / none mm
  • Missed graspshake x
  • Missed graspshake y
  • Missed graspshake z
  • Missed grasppush x
  • Missed grasppush y
Designed soft arm, 16 segments, 120 mmregistered 0.00 (0/18) · held 0.83 (17/18) · reference nominal episode
Axis-3-2-10+1+2+3tol. reg / held
acrossheld, not registered (no wrap)held, not registered (no wrap)held, not registered (no wrap)held, not registered (no wrap)held, not registered (no wrap)held, not registered (no wrap)held, not registered (no wrap)none / 3 mm
alongheld, not registered (no wrap)held, not registered (no wrap)held, not registered (no wrap)held, not registered (no wrap)held, not registered (no wrap)held, not registered (no wrap)held, not registered (no wrap)none / 3 mm
  • held, not registered (no wrap)shake x
  • held, not registered (no wrap)shake y
  • held, not registered (no wrap)shake z
  • Missed grasppush x
  • held, not registered (no wrap)push y
Designed three-finger hand, 2 joints per finger 66f1registered 0.78 (15/18) · held 0.97 (17/18) · reference nominal episode
Axis-3-2-10+1+2+3tol. reg / held
acrossregisteredPenetration over 1 mmheld, not registered (off centre, tilt_after_hold)registeredregisteredregisteredregistered0 / 1 mm
alongregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregistered3 / 3 mm
  • registeredshake x
  • registeredshake y
  • registeredshake z
  • registeredpush x
  • held, not registered (tilt_after_hold)push y
Designed two-finger sliding hook gripper d636registered 0.46 (8/18) · held 0.67 (16/18) · reference nominal episode
Axis-3-2-10+1+2+3tol. reg / held
acrossheld, not registered (off centre)registeredregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredheld, not registered (off centre)2 / 3 mm
alongheld, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)registeredheld, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)0 / 3 mm
  • registeredshake x
  • registeredshake y
  • registeredshake z
  • Dropped during holdpush x
  • Dropped during holdpush y
Designed two-finger sliding hook gripper aa75registered 0.68 (11/18) · held 0.83 (17/18) · reference nominal episode
Axis-3-2-10+1+2+3tol. reg / held
acrossregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregisteredregistered3 / 3 mm
alongheld, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)registeredheld, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)held, not registered (off centre)0 / 3 mm
  • registeredshake x
  • registeredshake y
  • registeredshake z
  • registeredpush x
  • Dropped during holdpush y

Budget and fairness

GroupStatusCandidatesScreen episodesReference episodesCertificatesFinalists
Referencerun324 / 9602 / 2Parallel jaw, configurator imprint, Parallel jaw, flat pad
Catalogrun1296 / 96122 / 2Two-finger parallel gripper, rigid pads A, Two-finger adaptive gripper, pinch
Soft armrun324 / 9632 / 2Soft arm, 16 segments, 160 mm, Soft arm, 20 soft segments, 180 mm
Suctionrun324 / 9632 / 2Suction cup, 10 mm bellows, Suction cup, 16 mm bellows
Designed (Nemotron)run432 / 9642 / 2Designed three-finger hand, 2 joints per finger 66f1, Designed soft arm, 16 segments, 120 mm
Random controlrunmatched to the 4 Nemotron designs screened, drawn from the same spaces: fingered hand, hook gripper, segmented tentacle, soft arm (tentacle), suction cup432 / 9642 / 2Designed two-finger sliding hook gripper aa75, Designed two-finger sliding hook gripper d636
Same for every candidate
yes (wrist servos and force limits, solver, the part's contact parameters, phase timings, conditions and seeds, read from each compiled model)
Conditions
c0: +0 mm (seeds 4851980083504090602, 8368184375320039959)c1: +2 mm (seeds 1737694775016079263, 5434042464910358545)c2: -3 mm (seeds 1811192003167628491, 968573999487125395)c3: +1 mm, 6 deg (seeds 6839139357743750164, 7136148556111890452)
Physics
258 screen and reference episodes, 216 certificate episodes; 0 simulator resets, 9 over 1 mm penetration
Signature
ef486a0d855b3c6e7ab3b330bbb9a873cf4d9b8adc5285016db898f77863d6fc

Caveats

MuJoCo 3.15.0 · code 790c47d65853 · task 8168db801332 · run effectors-flanged-bushing · 2026-10-17T11:53:25Z