{
  "title": "RCI Evidence Work Levels",
  "version": "1.1.0",
  "effectiveDate": "2026-08-11",
  "canonical": "https://robotcomponentindex.com/methodology/",
  "machineReadableUrl": "https://robotcomponentindex.com/data/methodology-evidence-work-levels.json",
  "distinction": "Work levels describe what RCI or an external test organization actually did. They are separate from the M/V/D/C/U claim-state codes.",
  "terminologyRule": "RCI does not use artifact integrity, source verification or public-data recomputation as shorthand for physical hardware testing. A page may say independent of vendor influence, but only EV4 and above involve an RCI or external physical specimen.",
  "levels": [
    {
      "code": "EV0",
      "label": "Source-reported only",
      "performedBy": "Upstream author or manufacturer",
      "proves": "What the responsible source states at a fixed location and date.",
      "doesNotProve": "That RCI checked the artifact, recomputed the result or tested hardware.",
      "physicalHardwareRequired": false
    },
    {
      "code": "EV1",
      "label": "RCI source verification",
      "performedBy": "RCI Editorial Team",
      "proves": "Identity, revision, source location, stated condition and rights boundary were checked.",
      "doesNotProve": "File integrity, numerical reproduction or device performance.",
      "physicalHardwareRequired": false
    },
    {
      "code": "EV2",
      "label": "RCI artifact-integrity audit",
      "performedBy": "RCI Editorial Team",
      "proves": "Downloaded files, hashes, manifests, source trees or release inventories match stated public artifacts.",
      "doesNotProve": "That software works on a device or that hardware meets a performance claim.",
      "physicalHardwareRequired": false
    },
    {
      "code": "EV3",
      "label": "RCI public-data recomputation",
      "performedBy": "RCI Editorial Team",
      "proves": "Specified aggregates or structural results can be recomputed from an identified public dataset.",
      "doesNotProve": "Unreleased experiments, model training, hardware behavior or generalization beyond the dataset.",
      "physicalHardwareRequired": false
    },
    {
      "code": "EV4",
      "label": "RCI physical bench test",
      "performedBy": "RCI Editorial Team",
      "proves": "The identified specimen produced the published result under RCI’s disclosed apparatus, protocol and conditions.",
      "doesNotProve": "Population-wide performance, certification, safety or replication by another organization.",
      "physicalHardwareRequired": true
    },
    {
      "code": "EV5",
      "label": "External independent replication",
      "performedBy": "Named organization independent of RCI and the vendor conclusion",
      "proves": "A second organization reproduced a defined result with disclosed deviations and raw records.",
      "doesNotProve": "Accredited conformity or universal performance outside the replicated protocol.",
      "physicalHardwareRequired": true
    },
    {
      "code": "EV6",
      "label": "Accredited laboratory test",
      "performedBy": "Named laboratory with applicable accreditation and scope",
      "proves": "A specified test or conformity conclusion was produced under the named standard, scope and accreditation.",
      "doesNotProve": "Claims outside that test method, specimen, standard or accreditation scope.",
      "physicalHardwareRequired": true
    }
  ]
}