What Is SimReady?#

For many, there is a simple question: what is the difference between a simulation asset and a SimReady asset? Both can be used within simulation runtimes successfully, so what makes SimReady different?

Simulation Assets#

Companies rely on accurate simulation assets to reduce costs, improve reliability, and make better operational decisions. Simulation assets can contain many Requirements, Features, or Profiles that use:

  • Existing OpenUSD schema standards to define or augment the behavior of an asset (such as USDPhysics)

  • Custom schemas that define and provide specific data for new behaviors of an asset (such as thermal cooling capacity for machinery assets)

  • Pointers to existing external standards and metadata (such as OPC-UA, MT Connect, ECLASS, OpenDrive)

Often, these assets are not formalized in a way that allows for rapid re-use outside of their original intent.

Important

Most users will create assets that conform to an existing SimReady specification rather than defining new specifications. A SimReady spec only needs to be authored one time - after that, any number of assets can be built against it. Users can also create simulation assets that have no SimReady requirements, features, or profiles and are perfectly valid. Assets that describe new simulation use-cases can be proposed as candidates for new SimReady spec consideration.

SimReady Assets#

SimReady formalizes the Requirements, Features, and Profiles through specification hardening and must include:

  • Normative Documentation

  • Validation Code

  • Reference Workflow Guides

  • Sample USD Assets

SimReady assets are not merely simulation assets - they are standardized, validated, and prepared for submission to AOUSD.

SimReady also establishes structured composition patterns that allow assets to work across multiple runtimes and simulation use cases, rather than serving as one-off assets limited to a single runtime.

Benefits of SimReady#

  • Clear guidelines for asset development

  • Validation tools and workflows

  • Industry-recognized certification

  • Reliable, high-quality assets

  • Predictable performance

  • Reduced integration time

  • Consistent behavior across platforms

  • Standardized asset libraries

  • Improved collaboration

  • Faster time-to-simulation

  • Better ROI on 3D content investments

See also