Simulation Object Configuration Module (SOCM)
OOF™ Origin Open Foundation™
Independent Methodological Authority
Architecture Ecosystem: Structured Reality Standards™
Architecture Family: SIMULOS® — Simulation Governance Architecture
Parent Standard: Simulation Object Standard (SOS)
Operational Layer: Simulation Object Governance Layer
Category: Governance & Enforcement
Subcategory: Simulation Governance
Type: Parent Standard Module
Governed Space: Simulation Object Configuration
Version: 1.0
Status: Canonical · Open Module
Effective Date: 15 August 2026
Compatibility: OOF® Methodology OS™ · GOA™ · ORA™ · VALIDOS® · INTEGROS® · ADIT® · AGA™ ·
AIG® · CLIA® · MGIA™ · ASGA™ · RIS™
AI-Readable: Yes
Authority: OOF®
Protection: MIP® — Methodological Intellectual Property
Canonical Language: English (UCL™)
Governed Space
Simulation Object Configuration
Canonical Definition
Simulation Object Configuration Module (SOCM) defines the governanceconditions under which the specific configuration of a Simulation Object is
identified, bounded, recorded, differentiated, changed, and maintained as a
traceable simulation-governance state.
SOCM ensures that simulation activity remains bound not merely to the correct
Simulation Object and version, but to the specific arrangement of components,
settings, parameters, options, dependencies, interfaces, capabilities, and
operational features that materially define the object state represented by
the simulation.
Operational Role
SOCM serves as the fourth internal governance space of the Simulation ObjectStandard (SOS).
The preceding modules establish:
SOIM — What exactly is the Simulation Object?
SOBM — Where does the Simulation Object begin and end?
SOVM — Which materially distinguishable version of that object is being
simulated?
SOCM asks:
What exact configuration of that Simulation Object Version is represented by
the simulation?
The governed progression is:
Identified Object → Bounded Object → Object Version → Configuration Basis →
Configuration Identification → Material Configuration State → Configuration
Change → Simulation Binding → Governed Simulation Object Configuration
Module Function
A Simulation Object Version may exist in multiple configurations.Those configurations may behave differently even though they belong to the
same version.
An autonomous vehicle may operate with different sensor packages.
A robot may operate with different payloads.
An AI system may have different tools enabled.
A spacecraft may use different subsystem arrangements.
An industrial system may operate under different control settings.
A digital system may expose different capabilities depending upon deployment
configuration.
Therefore:
Object Identity + Version Identity alone may be insufficient to establish what
was actually simulated.
SOCM prevents: undefined configurations, silent configuration substitution,
materially different configurations being treated as equivalent,
configuration-dependent results being represented as version-wide results,
configuration changes being hidden, outputs being detached from the
configuration that produced them, temporary settings being mistaken for
baseline configuration, and simulation conclusions being transferred between
configurations without a governed basis.
Simulation Object Configuration
A Simulation Object Configuration is the defined arrangement ofsimulation-relevant characteristics within a Simulation Object Version at a
particular governed state.
A configuration may include: installed components, activated components,
disabled components, software settings, control parameters, operational modes,
feature flags, interfaces, connected subsystems, dependency states, tool
permissions, sensor arrangements, actuator arrangements, hardware options,
safety mechanisms, or other simulation-relevant object characteristics.
Configuration Basis
The Configuration Basis establishes which object characteristics must be knownto distinguish one simulation-relevant configuration from another.
The Configuration Basis should focus on characteristics capable of materially
affecting: object behavior, available capabilities, interactions, assumptions,
scenario response, simulation execution, outputs, reality correlation, or
interpretation of simulation results.
Configuration Identity
Where configuration differences can materially affect simulation outcomes, therepresented configuration should possess sufficient identity to distinguish it
from other configurations.
Conceptually:
Simulation Object → Version →
Configuration
For example:Robot R1 → Version 4.2 → Configuration C7
The configuration identifier may be internally assigned or derived fromanother controlled configuration system.
SIMULOS® does not require a particular naming convention.
Configuration Baseline
A Simulation Object Configuration Baseline establishes the referenceconfiguration represented by the simulation.
The baseline may identify: Simulation Object, object version, configuration
identifier, material components, material settings, enabled capabilities,
disabled capabilities, operational mode, material dependencies, relevant
interfaces, effective state, and known configuration limitations.
Material Configuration Element
A Material Configuration Element is any configurable characteristic capable ofmaterially affecting the simulation or interpretation of its results.
Materiality is simulation-relative.
A setting irrelevant to one simulation may be critical to another.
Therefore:
Configuration Materiality must be evaluated relative to the Simulation Purpose
and the behavior being represented.
Configuration Completeness
Configuration Completeness asks:Are all materially relevant configurable characteristics sufficiently
identified to know which object state was actually represented?
Configuration completeness does not require documentation of every technically
possible parameter.
It requires sufficient representation of the configuration characteristics
material to the governed simulation.
Configuration Variants
One Simulation Object Version may contain multiple valid configurations.For example:
Version 5.0
may exist as:
Configuration A — Standard
Configuration B — Extended Capability
Configuration C — Restricted Safety Mode
Configuration D — Experimental
These remain configurations of the same version unless the underlying changesatisfies the governed conditions for a new version.
Parallel Configurations
Multiple configurations may exist simultaneously.SOCM preserves their distinction where simulation results could differ
materially between them.
Parallel configurations must not be collapsed into one generic object state
merely because they share the same version.
Temporary Configuration
A Simulation Object may temporarily enter a configuration used only for:testing, maintenance, emergency operation, degraded operation,
experimentation, calibration, or another temporary purpose.
Where that configuration is simulated, its temporary nature should remain
explicit.
Experimental Configuration
An experimental configuration should remain distinguishable from the approvedor operational baseline configuration.
Simulation findings from an experimental configuration must not silently
become findings about the operational configuration.
Configuration Change
A Configuration Change occurs when one or more configuration characteristicschange while the underlying Simulation Object identity remains continuous.
Conceptually:
Version V1 / Configuration A → Configuration Change → Version V1 /
Configuration B
A configuration change may or may not create a new Simulation Object Version.
Configuration Change Materiality
A configuration change is material where it can materially affect: simulatedbehavior, available capabilities, scenario response, system interaction,
expected outputs, reality representation, or interpretation of simulation
results.
Material configuration changes should remain explicitly traceable.
Configuration Change vs Version Change
SIMULOS® distinguishes:Configuration Change ≠ Version Change
A configuration change modifies the arrangement or state of configurablecharacteristics.
A version change establishes a materially distinguishable object generation or
state requiring separate version identity.
For example:
Version 3.0 / Sensor Package A
and:Version 3.0 / Sensor Package B
may represent two configurations of the same version.A fundamental redesign of the sensing architecture may instead require:
Version 4.0
SOVM governs version identity.
SOCM governs configuration identity.
Configuration Change Escalation
A configuration change may become sufficiently significant that the existingversion classification should be reconsidered.
SOCM should therefore be capable of generating a:
Version Reassessment Signal
where configuration change appears to exceed the current version boundary.SOVM determines the resulting version consequence.
Configuration-to-Simulation Binding
Every governed simulation should be capable of answering:Which configuration of the Simulation Object Version was represented?
The relationship becomes:
Simulation Object → Version →
Configuration → Simulation Activity
This binding prevents simulation results from becoming detached from theactual configured state represented during simulation.
Configuration-to-Output Binding
Where outputs depend materially upon configuration, the relationship shouldremain reconstructable:
Object Configuration → Simulation
Execution → Simulation Output
SOCM governs the configuration relationship.It does not govern the substantive Simulation Output.
No Silent Configuration Substitution Rule
SIMULOS® establishes:A materially different Simulation Object Configuration must not replace the
configuration represented by a simulation without explicit governance of the
change.
If a simulation begins against Configuration A and execution materially shifts
to Configuration B, the change must remain visible.
No Configuration-Wide Assumption Rule
SIMULOS® establishes:Results established for one configuration must not automatically be
represented as applicable to every configuration of the same Simulation Object
Version.
Shared version identity does not establish configuration equivalence.
Cross-Configuration Applicability
A result established for Configuration A may remain applicable toConfiguration B where the changed configuration characteristics do not
materially affect the simulation question.
Possible applicability states may include:
Fully Applicable
Conditionally Applicable
Partially Applicable
Not Applicable
or:Applicability Undetermined
The basis should remain explicit.Configuration Equivalence
Two configurations may be treated as simulation-equivalent for a specificsimulation purpose where their differences do not materially affect the
characteristics being simulated.
Therefore:
Technical Configuration Difference ≠
Automatic Simulation Difference
but equally:Shared Version ≠ Automatic Simulation
Equivalence Configuration Divergence
Configuration Divergence exists where configurations differ sufficiently thatsimulation findings cannot legitimately be transferred between them without
additional governance.
Divergence may result from differences in: components, capabilities,
permissions, control settings, operational modes, dependencies, interfaces,
safety mechanisms, or other material configuration elements.
Configuration Ambiguity
Configuration Ambiguity exists where the exact configuration represented bythe simulation cannot be established with sufficient confidence.
Material ambiguity should remain visible.
It must not be silently converted into an assumed configuration.
Configuration Conflict
A Configuration Conflict exists where credible records indicate materiallydifferent configurations for the same Simulation Object during the same
relevant simulation state.
The conflict should be resolved or explicitly preserved before
configuration-dependent conclusions are relied upon.
Configuration Status
A configuration may have a governed status such as:Baseline
Operational
Alternative
Temporary
Experimental
DegradedEmergency
Superseded
Retired
Ambiguous
or:
Undetermined
Configuration Status describes the relationship of the configuration to theSimulation Object.
It does not determine simulation validity.
Configuration History
SOCM should preserve material configuration history where configurationchanges affect interpretation of simulation activity.
Conceptually:
Configuration A → Change → Configuration B
→ Change → Configuration C
This allows later reconstruction of which configuration existed at eachrelevant simulation point.
Configuration Freeze
For some simulations, the represented configuration may need to remain fixedduring execution.
A Configuration Freeze identifies the configuration state that must remain
stable for the governed simulation activity.
Where a material change occurs during a freeze, the change should produce a
governance signal rather than being silently incorporated.
Dynamic Configuration
Some Simulation Objects legitimately change configuration during operation.Examples include: adaptive robots, reconfigurable spacecraft, autonomous
systems, modular industrial systems, dynamically provisioned computing
systems, and AI systems with changing tool availability.
In such cases, SOCM should not artificially freeze the object.
Instead, it governs the allowed configuration state space and the transitions
occurring within it.
Configuration State Transition
For dynamically configurable objects, a simulation may intentionallyrepresent:
Configuration A → Configuration B →
Configuration C
The transition itself may be part of the simulated behavior.SOCM preserves which configuration states existed and when transitions
occurred.
Allowed Configuration State Space
Where dynamic configuration is expected, an Allowed Configuration State Spacemay define which configurations or configuration transitions belong to the
intended simulation representation.
A transition outside that space may generate a configuration deviation signal.
Configuration Deviation
A Configuration Deviation exists where the represented or executedconfiguration differs materially from the approved Simulation Object
Configuration Basis.
Possible outcomes include:
Accepted Deviation
Conditional Deviation
Material Deviation
Configuration Conflict
or:Deviation Undetermined
SOCM records the deviation.Downstream simulation governance determines its consequences.
Configuration Dependency
Some configuration characteristics depend upon external or internalcomponents.
SOCM records the configuration relationship where necessary to know the actual
object state.
It does not assume governance ownership over the external dependency itself.
Configuration vs Environment
SOCM governs characteristics belonging to the Simulation Object.It does not govern the simulated environment surrounding the object.
For example:
Robot Sensor Package
belongs to:Simulation Object Configuration
while:Warehouse Lighting Conditions
belong to the relevant simulation environment governance space.The distinction preserves the object/environment boundary established by SOBM.
Configuration vs Simulation Inputs
Configuration characteristics define the state of the object.Simulation inputs are values, data, stimuli, or conditions supplied to
simulation execution.
Therefore:
Object Configuration ≠ Simulation Input
A parameter may appear technically similar in both contexts, but itsgovernance role determines its architectural location.
Configuration vs Scenario
A configuration describes:what state the Simulation Object is in.
A scenario describes:
what governed situation the simulation subjects that object to.
SOCM does not govern scenario design.
Configuration vs Reality Representation
SOCM identifies the actual object configuration claimed to be represented.It does not determine whether the simulation model accurately represents that
configuration.
That question belongs to the later Reality Representation governance space of
SIMULOS®.
Configuration vs Integrity
SOCM does not govern the general integrity of configuration records,components, or configuration processes.
That belongs to INTEGROS® where applicable.
SOCM governs specifically:
which configuration is relevant to the Simulation Object and how that
configuration remains identifiable and traceable throughout simulation
governance.
Configuration vs Validation
SOCM does not determine whether a configuration has been validated foroperational reliance.
That belongs to VALIDOS® where formal validation is required.
SOCM supplies the configuration identity and change information that
validation may consume.
Configuration Change Propagation
A material configuration change may affect downstream SIMULOS® governance,including: reality representation, assumptions, model and environment, inputs
and data, scenario design, execution, outputs, reality correlation, simulation
evidence, and operational reliance.
SOCM identifies the change and preserves its traceability.
It does not replace those downstream governance spaces.
Simulation Object Configuration Record
SOCM should establish a persistent Simulation Object Configuration Recordsufficient to reconstruct the configuration represented by the simulation.
The record may preserve: Simulation Object Identifier, Simulation Object
Version Identifier, Simulation Object Configuration Identifier, Configuration
Basis, Configuration Baseline, material components, material settings,
material parameters, enabled capabilities, disabled capabilities, operational
modes, dependencies, interfaces, configuration status, configuration variants,
temporary states, experimental states, configuration changes, configuration
deviations, configuration ambiguity, configuration conflicts, configuration
equivalence, cross-configuration applicability, configuration history,
simulation bindings, output references, and configuration traceability.
Failure Conditions
SOCM governance failure may exist where: the Simulation Object Configurationcannot be identified, material configuration elements remain unknown,
simulation activity cannot be bound to the configuration represented,
materially different configurations are treated as equivalent without basis,
configuration changes occur silently, configuration-dependent findings are
represented as version-wide findings, temporary or experimental configurations
are confused with operational configurations, configuration ambiguity is
hidden, conflicting configuration records remain undisclosed, configuration
transitions cannot be reconstructed, configuration changes are confused with
version changes, object configuration is confused with environmental
conditions, or downstream simulation conclusions cannot be traced to the
configuration from which they originated.
Minimum Implementation Framework
1. Establish the Configuration BasisIdentify which configurable characteristics are material to the governed
simulation. 2. Establish the Configuration Baseline
Record the material components, settings, capabilities, modes, interfaces,
dependencies, and other configuration characteristics represented. 3. Bind
Configuration to Object Version
Establish:
Simulation Object → Version →
Configuration
and preserve sufficient identity to distinguish materially differentconfigurations. 4. Govern Configuration Change
Detect material configuration changes, preserve transitions and deviations,
and trigger version reassessment where configuration change may exceed the
current version boundary. 5. Preserve Simulation Traceability
Bind the relevant configuration to simulation activity and preserve sufficient
history to determine which configuration produced or influenced downstream
simulation outputs.
Governance Outputs
SOCM may produce: Simulation Object Configuration Identifier, SimulationObject Configuration Record, Configuration Basis Record, Configuration
Baseline, Material Configuration Element Record, Configuration Completeness
Assessment, Configuration Variant Record, Parallel Configuration Record,
Temporary Configuration Record, Experimental Configuration Record,
Configuration Change Record, Configuration Materiality Assessment,
Configuration Transition Record, Configuration Freeze Record, Allowed
Configuration State Space, Configuration Deviation Record, Configuration
Equivalence Assessment, Cross-Configuration Applicability Assessment,
Configuration Divergence Record, Configuration Ambiguity Record, Configuration
Conflict Record, Configuration Status, Configuration History Record, Version
Reassessment Signal, Configuration-to-Simulation Binding,
Configuration-to-Output Reference, and Simulation Object Configuration
Traceability Map.
Use Case 1 — Autonomous Robot Tool
Configuration
ScenarioAn autonomous industrial robot operates under the same software and hardware
version but may use different tools:
Configuration A — Welding Tool
Configuration B — Cutting Tool
The control system version remains
unchanged. Application
SOCM preserves the two configurations as distinct object states.A simulation executed against the welding configuration remains bound to:
Robot R1 → Version 5.2 → Welding
Configuration
Simulation findings dependent upon tool geometry, payload, motion, oroperational capability are not automatically transferred to the cutting
configuration. Result
Shared version identity does not erase material configuration differences. Use
Case 2 — Spacecraft Operational Configuration
Scenario
A spacecraft operates in multiple governed configurations:
Launch Configuration
Orbital Configuration
Docking Configuration
The spacecraft remains the same object and
version. Application
SOCM identifies each configuration and the permitted transitions between them.A simulation evaluating docking behavior remains bound to the Docking
Configuration rather than being represented generically as a simulation of the
spacecraft in every operational state. Result
Simulation conclusions remain attached to the configuration actually
represented.
Architectural Position
Simulation Object Configuration Module (SOCM) is the fourth internalgovernance space of the Simulation Object Standard (SOS).
The internal progression is:
Simulation Object Identification → Simulation Object Boundary → Simulation
Object Versioning → Simulation Object Configuration
SOIM establishes:
What is being simulated?
SOBM establishes:
Where does the object begin and end?
SOVM establishes:
Which version of the object is being simulated?
SOCM establishes:
What exact configuration of that version is being simulated?
The next internal governance space, SODM — Simulation Object Documentation
Module, governs the persistent documentation necessary to preserve the
complete governed Simulation Object definition.
Foundational Principle
A simulation of the correct object and correct version may still represent thewrong operational reality if the configuration actually simulated is not the
configuration to which its conclusions are applied.