mjlab/docs/source/randomization.rst

Domain Randomization
====================

Domain randomization varies physical parameters during training so that policies
are robust to modeling errors and real-world variation. This guide shows
how to attach randomization terms to your environment using ``EventTerm`` and
``mdp.randomize_field``.

TL;DR
-----

Use an ``EventTerm`` that calls ``mdp.randomize_field`` with a target **field**, a
**value range** (or per-axis ranges), and an **operation** describing how to
apply the draw.

.. code-block:: python

    from mjlab.managers.event_manager import EventTermCfg
    from mjlab.managers.scene_entity_config import SceneEntityCfg
    from mjlab.envs import mdp

    foot_friction: EventTermCfg = EventTermCfg(
        mode="reset",  # randomize each episode
        func=mdp.randomize_field,
        domain_randomization=True,  # marks this as domain randomization
        params={
            "asset_cfg": SceneEntityCfg("robot", geom_names=[".*_foot.*"]),
            "field": "geom_friction",
            "ranges": (0.3, 1.2),
            "operation": "abs",
        },
    )

Domain Randomization Flag
-------------------------

When creating an ``EventTermCfg`` for domain randomization, set ``domain_randomization=True``.
This allows the environment to track which fields are being randomized:

.. code-block:: python

    EventTermCfg(
        mode="reset",
        func=mdp.randomize_field,
        domain_randomization=True,  # required for DR tracking
        params={"field": "geom_friction", ...},
    )

This flag is especially useful when using custom class-based event terms instead of
``mdp.randomize_field``.

Event Modes
-----------

* ``"startup"`` - randomize once at initialization
* ``"reset"`` - randomize at every episode reset
* ``"interval"`` - randomize at regular time intervals

Available Fields
----------------

**Joint/DOF:** ``dof_armature``, ``dof_frictionloss``, ``dof_damping``, ``jnt_range``,
``jnt_stiffness``, ``qpos0``

**Body:** ``body_mass``, ``body_ipos``, ``body_iquat``, ``body_inertia``, ``body_pos``,
``body_quat``

**Geom:** ``geom_friction``, ``geom_pos``, ``geom_quat``, ``geom_rgba``

**Site:** ``site_pos``, ``site_quat``

Randomization Parameters
------------------------

**Distribution:** ``"uniform"`` (default), ``"log_uniform"`` (values must be > 0),
``"gaussian"`` (``mean, std``)

**Operation:** ``"abs"`` (default, set), ``"scale"`` (multiply), ``"add"`` (offset)

Axis selection
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Multi-dimensional fields can be randomized per-axis.

**Friction.** Geoms have three coefficients ``[tangential, torsional, rolling]``.
For ``condim=3`` (standard frictional contact), only **axis 0 (tangential)**
affects contact behavior:

.. code-block:: python

    # Tangential friction (affects condim=3)
    params={"field": "geom_friction", "ranges": {0: (0.3, 1.2)}}

    # Tangential + torsional (torsional matters for condim >= 4)
    params={"field": "geom_friction", "ranges": {0: (0.5, 1.0), 1: (0.001, 0.01)}}

    # X and Y position
    params={"field": "body_pos", "axes": [0, 1], "ranges": (-0.1, 0.1)}


Examples
--------

Friction (reset)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.. code-block:: python

    foot_friction: EventTermCfg = EventTermCfg(
        mode="reset",
        func=mdp.randomize_field,
        domain_randomization=True,
        params={
            "asset_cfg": SceneEntityCfg("robot", geom_names=[".*_foot.*"]),
            "field": "geom_friction",
            "ranges": (0.3, 1.2),
            "operation": "abs",
        },
    )

.. note::

     Give your robot's collision geoms higher **priority** than terrain
     (geom priority defaults to 0). Then you only need to randomize robot friction.
     MuJoCo will use the higher-priority geom's friction in (robot, terrain)
     contacts.

.. code-block:: python

    from mjlab.utils.spec_config import CollisionCfg

    robot_collision = CollisionCfg(
        geom_names_expr=[".*_foot.*"],
        priority=1,
        friction=(0.6,),
        condim=3,
    )


Joint Offset (startup)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Randomize default joint positions to simulate joint offset calibration errors:

.. code-block:: python

    joint_offset: EventTermCfg = EventTermCfg(
        mode="startup",
        func=mdp.randomize_field,
        domain_randomization=True,
        params={
            "asset_cfg": SceneEntityCfg("robot", joint_names=[".*"]),
            "field": "qpos0",
            "ranges": (-0.01, 0.01),
            "operation": "add",
        },
    )


Center of Mass (COM) (startup)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.. code-block:: python

    com: EventTermCfg = EventTermCfg(
        mode="startup",
        func=mdp.randomize_field,
        domain_randomization=True,
        params={
            "asset_cfg": SceneEntityCfg("robot", body_names=["torso"]),
            "field": "body_ipos",
            "ranges": {0: (-0.02, 0.02), 1: (-0.02, 0.02)},
            "operation": "add",
        },
    ) 

Custom Class-Based Event Terms
------------------------------

You can create custom event terms using classes instead of functions. This is useful
for event terms that need to maintain state or perform initialization logic:

.. code-block:: python

    class RandomizeTerrainFriction:
        """Custom event term that randomizes terrain friction."""

        def __init__(self, cfg, env):
            # Find the terrain geom index during initialization
            self._terrain_idx = None
            for idx, geom in enumerate(env.scene.spec.geoms):
                if geom.name == "terrain":
                    self._terrain_idx = idx

            if self._terrain_idx is None:
                raise ValueError("Terrain geom not found in the model.")

        def __call__(self, env, env_ids, ranges):
            """Called each time the event is triggered."""
            from mjlab.utils.math import sample_uniform
            env.sim.model.geom_friction[env_ids, self._terrain_idx, 0] = sample_uniform(
                ranges[0], ranges[1], len(env_ids), env.device
            )


    # Use the custom class in your environment config
    terrain_friction: EventTermCfg = EventTermCfg(
        mode="reset",
        func=RandomizeTerrainFriction,
        domain_randomization=True,
        params={"field": "geom_friction", "ranges": (0.3, 1.2)},
    )


Migrating from Isaac Lab
------------------------

Isaac Lab exposes explicit friction combination modes (``multiply``, ``average``,
``min``, ``max``). MuJoCo instead uses **priority-based selection**: if one
contacting geom has higher ``priority``, its friction is used; otherwise the
**element-wise maximum** is used. See the
`MuJoCo contact documentation <https://mujoco.readthedocs.io/en/stable/computation/index.html#contact>`_
for details.