Why does ArticulationBody.xDriveTarget have no effect?

Drive Target sets the desired position but the drive only applies if Stiffness > 0. Set Stiffness to a sensible value (e.g. 1000) and Damping (50) to push the joint toward the target.

Caps the corrective force. Default Mathf.Infinity is fine. Lower for soft drives that don't overpower other joints.

Drive Type Acceleration vs Force?

Acceleration ignores body mass; same response regardless of inertia. Force respects mass. For game-like control prefer Acceleration.

Fix: ArticulationBody xDriveTarget Has No Effect

Quick answer: Set xDrive.Stiffness ~1000, Damping ~50, drive type Acceleration. Target without stiffness is a no-op.

Robot arm rigged with ArticulationBody chain. Set xDriveTarget to 45°. Joint doesn't move. Stiffness was 0.

The Fix

var ab = GetComponent<ArticulationBody>();
var drive = ab.xDrive;
drive.driveType    = ArticulationDriveType.Acceleration;
drive.stiffness    = 1000f;
drive.damping      = 50f;
drive.target       = 45f;        // degrees for hinge
drive.forceLimit   = float.PositiveInfinity;
ab.xDrive = drive;

Stiffness drives toward target; damping prevents oscillation. Acceleration mode is mass-independent and gives consistent response.

Verifying

Joint settles at target angle within 0.5s. Without stiffness: drifts. Too much: oscillates.

“Stiffness drives. Damping settles.”

Related Issues

For FixedJoint tearing, see FixedJoint. For Rigidbody jitter mobile, see jitter.

Stiffness on. Joint moves.