Efficient Learning of Mechanism Designs and Compositionality

Learning mechanism behaviour requires a representation of how connected parts jointly constrain motion. We study whether exposing reusable constraint subassemblies improves prediction from limited data. Assur-KB represents planar mechanisms through irreducible modules, boundary interfaces, and solve dependencies while retaining source geometry. Our theoretical results characterize transfer through module interfaces and establish physical limits arising from missing interface information and accumulated sensitivity. To test the representation claim directly, the experimental design compares matched mechanism-curve pairs across training budgets within the same multilayer-perceptron family. This controlled comparison establishes the utility of the complete representation in the evaluated learning setting. Assur-derived features provide a geometric-mean $1.8\times$ advantage in sample efficiency over flattened adjacency and position inputs across budgets of 50-10,000 mechanisms. Separate experiments establish invariance under tested joint relabelings, higher valid-generation rates under dyadic composition, and a coarser structural index over 10.02 million mechanisms. In summary, the theory and experiments identify how physical constraint structure supports limited-data prediction and which interface conditions govern compositional reuse.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
arXiv (Cornell University)
Published
2026-10-29
DOI
https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2610.40005
Primary Topic
Robotic Mechanisms and Dynamics
Type
preprint
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
preprint

Efficient Learning of Mechanism Designs and Compositionality

Stefan Menzel, André Freitas, Thiago Rios, João Pedro Gandarela
arXiv (Cornell University)
Robotic Mechanisms and Dynamics
preprint

Efficient Learning of Mechanism Designs and Compositionality

Stefan Menzel, André Freitas, Thiago Rios, João Pedro Gandarela
preprint en

Abstract

Learning mechanism behaviour requires a representation of how connected parts jointly constrain motion. We study whether exposing reusable constraint subassemblies improves prediction from limited data. Assur-KB represents planar mechanisms through irreducible modules, boundary interfaces, and solve dependencies while retaining source geometry. Our theoretical results characterize transfer through module interfaces and establish physical limits arising from missing interface information and accumulated sensitivity. To test the representation claim directly, the experimental design compares matched mechanism-curve pairs across training budgets within the same multilayer-perceptron family. This controlled comparison establishes the utility of the complete representation in the evaluated learning setting. Assur-derived features provide a geometric-mean $1.8\times$ advantage in sample efficiency over flattened adjacency and position inputs across budgets of 50-10,000 mechanisms. Separate experiments establish invariance under tested joint relabelings, higher valid-generation rates under dyadic composition, and a coarser structural index over 10.02 million mechanisms. In summary, the theory and experiments identify how physical constraint structure supports limited-data prediction and which interface conditions govern compositional reuse.

arXiv (Cornell University)
Robotic Mechanisms and Dynamics
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Laika access coming soon