diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
index 957c3892db..ae7118f64a 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -182,8 +182,6 @@ const QString SKIP_FILENAME = QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::D
 
 const QString DEFAULT_SCRIPTS_JS_URL = "http://s3.amazonaws.com/hifi-public/scripts/defaultScripts.js";
 
-bool renderCollisionHulls = false;
-
 #ifdef Q_OS_WIN
 class MyNativeEventFilter : public QAbstractNativeEventFilter {
 public:
@@ -1311,11 +1309,6 @@ void Application::keyPressEvent(QKeyEvent* event) {
                 break;
             }
 
-            case Qt::Key_Comma: {
-                renderCollisionHulls = !renderCollisionHulls;
-                break;
-            }
-
             default:
                 event->ignore();
                 break;
@@ -3141,13 +3134,21 @@ void Application::displaySide(Camera& theCamera, bool selfAvatarOnly, RenderArgs
             PerformanceTimer perfTimer("entities");
             PerformanceWarning warn(Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::PipelineWarnings),
                 "Application::displaySide() ... entities...");
-            if (renderCollisionHulls) {
-                _entities.render(RenderArgs::DEBUG_RENDER_MODE, renderSide);
-            } else if (theCamera.getMode() == CAMERA_MODE_MIRROR) {
-                _entities.render(RenderArgs::MIRROR_RENDER_MODE, renderSide);
-            } else {
-                _entities.render(RenderArgs::DEFAULT_RENDER_MODE, renderSide);
+
+            RenderArgs::DebugFlags renderDebugFlags = RenderArgs::RENDER_DEBUG_NONE;
+            RenderArgs::RenderMode renderMode = RenderArgs::DEFAULT_RENDER_MODE;
+
+            if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::PhysicsShowHulls)) {
+                renderDebugFlags = (RenderArgs::DebugFlags) (renderDebugFlags | (int) RenderArgs::RENDER_DEBUG_HULLS);
             }
+            if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::PhysicsShowOwned)) {
+                renderDebugFlags =
+                    (RenderArgs::DebugFlags) (renderDebugFlags | (int) RenderArgs::RENDER_DEBUG_SIMULATION_OWNERSHIP);
+            }
+            if (theCamera.getMode() == CAMERA_MODE_MIRROR) {
+                renderMode = RenderArgs::MIRROR_RENDER_MODE;
+            }
+            _entities.render(renderMode, renderSide, renderDebugFlags);
         }
 
         // render JS/scriptable overlays
diff --git a/interface/src/Menu.cpp b/interface/src/Menu.cpp
index 9b9e93a4c9..43c63eb383 100644
--- a/interface/src/Menu.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Menu.cpp
@@ -549,6 +549,11 @@ Menu::Menu() {
                                             statsRenderer.data(),
                                             SLOT(toggleShowInjectedStreams()));
 
+
+    QMenu* physicsOptionsMenu = developerMenu->addMenu("Physics");
+    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(physicsOptionsMenu, MenuOption::PhysicsShowOwned);
+    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(physicsOptionsMenu, MenuOption::PhysicsShowHulls);
+
     QMenu* helpMenu = addMenu("Help");
     addActionToQMenuAndActionHash(helpMenu, MenuOption::EditEntitiesHelp, 0, qApp, SLOT(showEditEntitiesHelp()));
 
diff --git a/interface/src/Menu.h b/interface/src/Menu.h
index 5a162d31bc..2c4e2b809f 100644
--- a/interface/src/Menu.h
+++ b/interface/src/Menu.h
@@ -187,6 +187,8 @@ namespace MenuOption {
     const QString OnlyDisplayTopTen = "Only Display Top Ten";
     const QString PackageModel = "Package Model...";
     const QString Pair = "Pair";
+    const QString PhysicsShowOwned = "Highlight Simulation Ownership";
+    const QString PhysicsShowHulls = "Draw Collision Hulls";
     const QString PipelineWarnings = "Log Render Pipeline Warnings";
     const QString Preferences = "Preferences...";
     const QString Quit =  "Quit";
diff --git a/interface/src/ui/overlays/Overlays.cpp b/interface/src/ui/overlays/Overlays.cpp
index 191f3f4a99..a9eb9184dd 100644
--- a/interface/src/ui/overlays/Overlays.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/ui/overlays/Overlays.cpp
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ void Overlays::renderHUD() {
     RenderArgs args = { NULL, Application::getInstance()->getViewFrustum(),
                         lodManager->getOctreeSizeScale(),
                         lodManager->getBoundaryLevelAdjust(),
-                        RenderArgs::DEFAULT_RENDER_MODE, RenderArgs::MONO,
+                        RenderArgs::DEFAULT_RENDER_MODE, RenderArgs::MONO, RenderArgs::RENDER_DEBUG_NONE,
                         0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 };
 
     foreach(Overlay* thisOverlay, _overlaysHUD) {
@@ -108,7 +108,10 @@ void Overlays::renderHUD() {
     }
 }
 
-void Overlays::renderWorld(bool drawFront, RenderArgs::RenderMode renderMode, RenderArgs::RenderSide renderSide) {
+void Overlays::renderWorld(bool drawFront,
+                           RenderArgs::RenderMode renderMode,
+                           RenderArgs::RenderSide renderSide,
+                           RenderArgs::DebugFlags renderDebugFlags) {
     QReadLocker lock(&_lock);
     if (_overlaysWorld.size() == 0) {
         return;
@@ -125,7 +128,7 @@ void Overlays::renderWorld(bool drawFront, RenderArgs::RenderMode renderMode, Re
     RenderArgs args = { NULL, Application::getInstance()->getDisplayViewFrustum(),
                         lodManager->getOctreeSizeScale(),
                         lodManager->getBoundaryLevelAdjust(),
-                        renderMode, renderSide,
+                        renderMode, renderSide, renderDebugFlags,
                         0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 };
     
 
diff --git a/interface/src/ui/overlays/Overlays.h b/interface/src/ui/overlays/Overlays.h
index 42227d04f6..04e306097b 100644
--- a/interface/src/ui/overlays/Overlays.h
+++ b/interface/src/ui/overlays/Overlays.h
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ public:
     void init();
     void update(float deltatime);
     void renderWorld(bool drawFront, RenderArgs::RenderMode renderMode = RenderArgs::DEFAULT_RENDER_MODE,
-                        RenderArgs::RenderSide renderSide = RenderArgs::MONO);
+                     RenderArgs::RenderSide renderSide = RenderArgs::MONO,
+                     RenderArgs::DebugFlags renderDebugFlags = RenderArgs::RENDER_DEBUG_NONE);
     void renderHUD();
 
 public slots:
diff --git a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.cpp b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.cpp
index 029161dec4..c9a968a58e 100644
--- a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.cpp
@@ -383,7 +383,9 @@ void EntityTreeRenderer::leaveAllEntities() {
         _lastAvatarPosition = _viewState->getAvatarPosition() + glm::vec3((float)TREE_SCALE);
     }
 }
-void EntityTreeRenderer::render(RenderArgs::RenderMode renderMode, RenderArgs::RenderSide renderSide) {
+void EntityTreeRenderer::render(RenderArgs::RenderMode renderMode,
+                                RenderArgs::RenderSide renderSide,
+                                RenderArgs::DebugFlags renderDebugFlags) {
     if (_tree && !_shuttingDown) {
         Model::startScene(renderSide);
 
@@ -391,8 +393,7 @@ void EntityTreeRenderer::render(RenderArgs::RenderMode renderMode, RenderArgs::R
             _viewState->getShadowViewFrustum() : _viewState->getCurrentViewFrustum();
 
         RenderArgs args = { this, frustum, getSizeScale(), getBoundaryLevelAdjust(), renderMode, renderSide,
-                            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 };
-
+                            renderDebugFlags, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 };
 
         _tree->lockForRead();
 
diff --git a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.h b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.h
index 8f720e5e48..20534c3e2b 100644
--- a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.h
+++ b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.h
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ public:
 
     virtual void init();
     virtual void render(RenderArgs::RenderMode renderMode = RenderArgs::DEFAULT_RENDER_MODE, 
-                                        RenderArgs::RenderSide renderSide = RenderArgs::MONO);
+                        RenderArgs::RenderSide renderSide = RenderArgs::MONO,
+                        RenderArgs::DebugFlags renderDebugFlags = RenderArgs::RENDER_DEBUG_NONE);
 
     virtual const FBXGeometry* getGeometryForEntity(const EntityItem* entityItem);
     virtual const Model* getModelForEntityItem(const EntityItem* entityItem);
diff --git a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp
index 8ca6562505..b9bf1d39a8 100644
--- a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp
@@ -118,8 +118,15 @@ void RenderableModelEntityItem::render(RenderArgs* args) {
     glm::vec3 position = getPosition();
     glm::vec3 dimensions = getDimensions();
     float size = glm::length(dimensions);
-    
-    if (drawAsModel) {
+
+    bool highlightSimulationOwnership = false;
+    if (args->_debugFlags & RenderArgs::RENDER_DEBUG_SIMULATION_OWNERSHIP) {
+        auto nodeList = DependencyManager::get<NodeList>();
+        const QUuid& myNodeID = nodeList->getSessionUUID();
+        highlightSimulationOwnership = (getSimulatorID() == myNodeID);
+    }
+
+    if (drawAsModel && !highlightSimulationOwnership) {
         remapTextures();
         glPushMatrix();
         {
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp
index 65d4849b0e..5552013ca2 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp
@@ -308,6 +308,7 @@ int EntityItem::readEntityDataFromBuffer(const unsigned char* data, int bytesLef
     glm::vec3 savePosition = _position;
     glm::quat saveRotation = _rotation;
     glm::vec3 saveVelocity = _velocity;
+    glm::vec3 saveAngularVelocity = _angularVelocity;
     glm::vec3 saveGravity = _gravity;
     glm::vec3 saveAcceleration = _acceleration;
 
@@ -592,7 +593,10 @@ int EntityItem::readEntityDataFromBuffer(const unsigned char* data, int bytesLef
                 #ifdef WANT_DEBUG
                     qCDebug(entities) << "skipTimeForward:" << skipTimeForward;
                 #endif
-                simulateKinematicMotion(skipTimeForward);
+
+                // we want to extrapolate the motion forward to compensate for packet travel time, but
+                // we don't want the side effect of flag setting.
+                simulateKinematicMotion(skipTimeForward, false);
             }
             _lastSimulated = now;
         }
@@ -607,6 +611,7 @@ int EntityItem::readEntityDataFromBuffer(const unsigned char* data, int bytesLef
         _position = savePosition;
         _rotation = saveRotation;
         _velocity = saveVelocity;
+        _angularVelocity = saveAngularVelocity;
         _gravity = saveGravity;
         _acceleration = saveAcceleration;
     }
@@ -725,7 +730,7 @@ void EntityItem::simulate(const quint64& now) {
     _lastSimulated = now;
 }
 
-void EntityItem::simulateKinematicMotion(float timeElapsed) {
+void EntityItem::simulateKinematicMotion(float timeElapsed, bool setFlags) {
     if (hasAngularVelocity()) {
         // angular damping
         if (_angularDamping > 0.0f) {
@@ -740,7 +745,7 @@ void EntityItem::simulateKinematicMotion(float timeElapsed) {
         
         const float EPSILON_ANGULAR_VELOCITY_LENGTH = 0.0017453f; // 0.0017453 rad/sec = 0.1f degrees/sec
         if (angularSpeed < EPSILON_ANGULAR_VELOCITY_LENGTH) {
-            if (angularSpeed > 0.0f) {
+            if (setFlags && angularSpeed > 0.0f) {
                 _dirtyFlags |= EntityItem::DIRTY_MOTION_TYPE;
             }
             _angularVelocity = ENTITY_ITEM_ZERO_VEC3;
@@ -802,7 +807,7 @@ void EntityItem::simulateKinematicMotion(float timeElapsed) {
         const float EPSILON_LINEAR_VELOCITY_LENGTH = 0.001f; // 1mm/sec
         if (speed < EPSILON_LINEAR_VELOCITY_LENGTH) {
             setVelocity(ENTITY_ITEM_ZERO_VEC3);
-            if (speed > 0.0f) {
+            if (setFlags && speed > 0.0f) {
                 _dirtyFlags |= EntityItem::DIRTY_MOTION_TYPE;
             }
         } else {
@@ -1080,6 +1085,7 @@ const float MIN_ALIGNMENT_DOT = 0.999999f;
 const float MIN_VELOCITY_DELTA = 0.01f;
 const float MIN_DAMPING_DELTA = 0.001f;
 const float MIN_GRAVITY_DELTA = 0.001f;
+const float MIN_ACCELERATION_DELTA = 0.001f;
 const float MIN_SPIN_DELTA = 0.0003f;
 
 void EntityItem::updatePositionInDomainUnits(const glm::vec3& value) { 
@@ -1088,9 +1094,10 @@ void EntityItem::updatePositionInDomainUnits(const glm::vec3& value) {
 }
 
 void EntityItem::updatePosition(const glm::vec3& value) { 
-    if (glm::distance(_position, value) > MIN_POSITION_DELTA) {
+    if (value != _position) {
+        auto distance = glm::distance(_position, value);
+        _dirtyFlags |= (distance > MIN_POSITION_DELTA) ? EntityItem::DIRTY_POSITION : EntityItem::DIRTY_PHYSICS_NO_WAKE;
         _position = value;
-        _dirtyFlags |= EntityItem::DIRTY_POSITION;
     }
 }
 
@@ -1107,9 +1114,10 @@ void EntityItem::updateDimensions(const glm::vec3& value) {
 }
 
 void EntityItem::updateRotation(const glm::quat& rotation) { 
-    if (glm::dot(_rotation, rotation) < MIN_ALIGNMENT_DOT) {
-        _rotation = rotation; 
-        _dirtyFlags |= EntityItem::DIRTY_POSITION;
+    if (rotation != _rotation) {
+        auto alignmentDot = glm::abs(glm::dot(_rotation, rotation));
+        _dirtyFlags |= (alignmentDot < MIN_ALIGNMENT_DOT) ? EntityItem::DIRTY_POSITION : EntityItem::DIRTY_PHYSICS_NO_WAKE;
+        _rotation = rotation;
     }
 }
 
@@ -1166,21 +1174,28 @@ void EntityItem::updateGravityInDomainUnits(const glm::vec3& value) {
 }
 
 void EntityItem::updateGravity(const glm::vec3& value) { 
-    if ( glm::distance(_gravity, value) > MIN_GRAVITY_DELTA) {
+    if (glm::distance(_gravity, value) > MIN_GRAVITY_DELTA) {
         _gravity = value;
         _dirtyFlags |= EntityItem::DIRTY_VELOCITY;
     }
 }
 
 void EntityItem::updateAcceleration(const glm::vec3& value) { 
-    _acceleration = value;
-    _dirtyFlags |= EntityItem::DIRTY_VELOCITY;
+    if (glm::distance(_acceleration, value) > MIN_ACCELERATION_DELTA) {
+        _acceleration = value;
+        _dirtyFlags |= EntityItem::DIRTY_VELOCITY;
+    }
 }
 
 void EntityItem::updateAngularVelocity(const glm::vec3& value) { 
-    if (glm::distance(_angularVelocity, value) > MIN_SPIN_DELTA) {
-        _angularVelocity = value; 
+    auto distance = glm::distance(_angularVelocity, value);
+    if (distance > MIN_SPIN_DELTA) {
         _dirtyFlags |= EntityItem::DIRTY_VELOCITY;
+        if (glm::length(value) < MIN_SPIN_DELTA) {
+            _angularVelocity = ENTITY_ITEM_ZERO_VEC3;
+        } else {
+            _angularVelocity = value;
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.h b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.h
index fda8167564..890134828a 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.h
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.h
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ public:
         DIRTY_MOTION_TYPE = 0x0010,
         DIRTY_SHAPE = 0x0020,
         DIRTY_LIFETIME = 0x0040,
-        DIRTY_UPDATEABLE = 0x0080
+        DIRTY_UPDATEABLE = 0x0080,
+        DIRTY_PHYSICS_NO_WAKE = 0x0100 // we want to update values in physics engine without "waking" the object up
     };
 
     DONT_ALLOW_INSTANTIATION // This class can not be instantiated directly
@@ -132,7 +133,7 @@ public:
     
     // perform linear extrapolation for SimpleEntitySimulation
     void simulate(const quint64& now);
-    void simulateKinematicMotion(float timeElapsed);
+    void simulateKinematicMotion(float timeElapsed, bool setFlags=true);
 
     virtual bool needsToCallUpdate() const { return false; }
 
diff --git a/libraries/octree/src/OctreeRenderer.cpp b/libraries/octree/src/OctreeRenderer.cpp
index 6629d9ceb7..4347934d87 100644
--- a/libraries/octree/src/OctreeRenderer.cpp
+++ b/libraries/octree/src/OctreeRenderer.cpp
@@ -164,9 +164,11 @@ bool OctreeRenderer::renderOperation(OctreeElement* element, void* extraData) {
     return false;
 }
 
-void OctreeRenderer::render(RenderArgs::RenderMode renderMode, RenderArgs::RenderSide renderSide) {
+void OctreeRenderer::render(RenderArgs::RenderMode renderMode,
+                            RenderArgs::RenderSide renderSide,
+                            RenderArgs::DebugFlags renderDebugFlags) {
     RenderArgs args = { this, _viewFrustum, getSizeScale(), getBoundaryLevelAdjust(), renderMode, renderSide, 
-                        0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 };
+                        renderDebugFlags, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 };
     if (_tree) {
         _tree->lockForRead();
         _tree->recurseTreeWithOperation(renderOperation, &args);
diff --git a/libraries/octree/src/OctreeRenderer.h b/libraries/octree/src/OctreeRenderer.h
index 4ee0865243..ca0914723f 100644
--- a/libraries/octree/src/OctreeRenderer.h
+++ b/libraries/octree/src/OctreeRenderer.h
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ public:
 
     /// render the content of the octree
     virtual void render(RenderArgs::RenderMode renderMode = RenderArgs::DEFAULT_RENDER_MODE, 
-                                RenderArgs::RenderSide renderSide = RenderArgs::MONO);
+                        RenderArgs::RenderSide renderSide = RenderArgs::MONO,
+                        RenderArgs::DebugFlags renderDebugFlags = RenderArgs::RENDER_DEBUG_NONE);
 
     ViewFrustum* getViewFrustum() const { return _viewFrustum; }
     void setViewFrustum(ViewFrustum* viewFrustum) { _viewFrustum = viewFrustum; }
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/EntityMotionState.cpp b/libraries/physics/src/EntityMotionState.cpp
index d1571fbcc5..6338736a19 100644
--- a/libraries/physics/src/EntityMotionState.cpp
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/EntityMotionState.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ void EntityMotionState::enqueueOutgoingEntity(EntityItem* entity) {
 EntityMotionState::EntityMotionState(EntityItem* entity) :
     _entity(entity),
     _accelerationNearlyGravityCount(0),
-    _shouldClaimSimulationOwnership(false)
+    _shouldClaimSimulationOwnership(false),
+    _movingStepsWithoutSimulationOwner(0)
 {
     _type = MOTION_STATE_TYPE_ENTITY;
     assert(entity != NULL);
@@ -108,11 +109,23 @@ void EntityMotionState::setWorldTransform(const btTransform& worldTrans) {
     getVelocity(v);
     _entity->setVelocity(v);
 
-    getAngularVelocity(v);
-    _entity->setAngularVelocity(v);
+    glm::vec3 av;
+    getAngularVelocity(av);
+    _entity->setAngularVelocity(av);
 
     _entity->setLastSimulated(usecTimestampNow());
 
+    if (_entity->getSimulatorID().isNull() && isMoving()) {
+        // object is moving and has no owner.  attempt to claim simulation ownership.
+        _movingStepsWithoutSimulationOwner++;
+    } else {
+        _movingStepsWithoutSimulationOwner = 0;
+    }
+
+    if (_movingStepsWithoutSimulationOwner > 4) { // XXX maybe meters from our characterController ?
+        setShouldClaimSimulationOwnership(true);
+    }
+
     _outgoingPacketFlags = DIRTY_PHYSICS_FLAGS;
     EntityMotionState::enqueueOutgoingEntity(_entity);
 
@@ -126,7 +139,7 @@ void EntityMotionState::setWorldTransform(const btTransform& worldTrans) {
 }
 
 void EntityMotionState::updateObjectEasy(uint32_t flags, uint32_t step) {
-    if (flags & (EntityItem::DIRTY_POSITION | EntityItem::DIRTY_VELOCITY)) {
+    if (flags & (EntityItem::DIRTY_POSITION | EntityItem::DIRTY_VELOCITY | EntityItem::DIRTY_PHYSICS_NO_WAKE)) {
         if (flags & EntityItem::DIRTY_POSITION) {
             _sentPosition = _entity->getPosition() - ObjectMotionState::getWorldOffset();
             btTransform worldTrans;
@@ -141,6 +154,10 @@ void EntityMotionState::updateObjectEasy(uint32_t flags, uint32_t step) {
             updateObjectVelocities();
         }
         _sentStep = step;
+
+        if (flags & (EntityItem::DIRTY_POSITION | EntityItem::DIRTY_VELOCITY)) {
+            _body->activate();
+        }
     }
 
     // TODO: entity support for friction and restitution
@@ -160,7 +177,6 @@ void EntityMotionState::updateObjectEasy(uint32_t flags, uint32_t step) {
         _body->setMassProps(mass, inertia);
         _body->updateInertiaTensor();
     }
-    _body->activate();
 };
 
 void EntityMotionState::updateObjectVelocities() {
@@ -287,13 +303,14 @@ void EntityMotionState::sendUpdate(OctreeEditPacketSender* packetSender, uint32_
         QUuid simulatorID = _entity->getSimulatorID();
 
         if (getShouldClaimSimulationOwnership()) {
-            _entity->setSimulatorID(myNodeID);
             properties.setSimulatorID(myNodeID);
             setShouldClaimSimulationOwnership(false);
-        }
-
-        if (simulatorID == myNodeID && zeroSpeed && zeroSpin) {
-            // we are the simulator and the object has stopped.  give up "simulator" status
+        } else if (simulatorID == myNodeID && zeroSpeed && zeroSpin) {
+            // we are the simulator and the entity has stopped.  give up "simulator" status
+            _entity->setSimulatorID(QUuid());
+            properties.setSimulatorID(QUuid());
+        } else if (simulatorID == myNodeID && !_body->isActive()) {
+            // it's not active.  don't keep simulation ownership.
             _entity->setSimulatorID(QUuid());
             properties.setSimulatorID(QUuid());
         }
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/EntityMotionState.h b/libraries/physics/src/EntityMotionState.h
index 07f82aaa42..087d5b49b9 100644
--- a/libraries/physics/src/EntityMotionState.h
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/EntityMotionState.h
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ protected:
     EntityItem* _entity;
     quint8 _accelerationNearlyGravityCount;
     bool _shouldClaimSimulationOwnership;
+    quint32 _movingStepsWithoutSimulationOwner;
 };
 
 #endif // hifi_EntityMotionState_h
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicsEngine.cpp b/libraries/physics/src/PhysicsEngine.cpp
index 45f3c97e30..27ea816440 100644
--- a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicsEngine.cpp
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/PhysicsEngine.cpp
@@ -119,8 +119,10 @@ void PhysicsEngine::entityChangedInternal(EntityItem* entity) {
     assert(entity);
     void* physicsInfo = entity->getPhysicsInfo();
     if (physicsInfo) {
-        ObjectMotionState* motionState = static_cast<ObjectMotionState*>(physicsInfo);
-        _incomingChanges.insert(motionState);
+        if ((entity->getDirtyFlags() & (HARD_DIRTY_PHYSICS_FLAGS | EASY_DIRTY_PHYSICS_FLAGS)) > 0) {
+            ObjectMotionState* motionState = static_cast<ObjectMotionState*>(physicsInfo);
+            _incomingChanges.insert(motionState);
+        }
     } else {
         // try to add this entity again (maybe something changed such that it will work this time)
         addEntity(entity);
@@ -366,15 +368,46 @@ void PhysicsEngine::stepNonPhysicalKinematics(const quint64& now) {
     }
 }
 
-void PhysicsEngine::computeCollisionEvents() {
-    BT_PROFILE("computeCollisionEvents");
+
+void PhysicsEngine::doOwnershipInfection(const btCollisionObject* objectA, const btCollisionObject* objectB) {
+    assert(objectA);
+    assert(objectB);
 
     auto nodeList = DependencyManager::get<NodeList>();
     QUuid myNodeID = nodeList->getSessionUUID();
-
     const btCollisionObject* characterCollisionObject =
         _characterController ? _characterController->getCollisionObject() : NULL;
 
+    assert(!myNodeID.isNull());
+
+    ObjectMotionState* a = static_cast<ObjectMotionState*>(objectA->getUserPointer());
+    ObjectMotionState* b = static_cast<ObjectMotionState*>(objectB->getUserPointer());
+    EntityItem* entityA = a ? a->getEntity() : NULL;
+    EntityItem* entityB = b ? b->getEntity() : NULL;
+    bool aIsDynamic = entityA && !objectA->isStaticOrKinematicObject();
+    bool bIsDynamic = entityB && !objectB->isStaticOrKinematicObject();
+
+    // collisions cause infectious spread of simulation-ownership.  we also attempt to take
+    // ownership of anything that collides with our avatar.
+    if ((aIsDynamic && (entityA->getSimulatorID() == myNodeID)) ||
+        // (a && a->getShouldClaimSimulationOwnership()) ||
+        (objectA == characterCollisionObject)) {
+        if (bIsDynamic) {
+            b->setShouldClaimSimulationOwnership(true);
+        }
+    } else if ((bIsDynamic && (entityB->getSimulatorID() == myNodeID)) ||
+        // (b && b->getShouldClaimSimulationOwnership()) ||
+        (objectB == characterCollisionObject)) {
+        if (aIsDynamic) {
+            a->setShouldClaimSimulationOwnership(true);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+
+void PhysicsEngine::computeCollisionEvents() {
+    BT_PROFILE("computeCollisionEvents");
+
     // update all contacts every frame
     int numManifolds = _collisionDispatcher->getNumManifolds();
     for (int i = 0; i < numManifolds; ++i) {
@@ -393,31 +426,12 @@ void PhysicsEngine::computeCollisionEvents() {
 
             ObjectMotionState* a = static_cast<ObjectMotionState*>(objectA->getUserPointer());
             ObjectMotionState* b = static_cast<ObjectMotionState*>(objectB->getUserPointer());
-            EntityItem* entityA = a ? a->getEntity() : NULL;
-            EntityItem* entityB = b ? b->getEntity() : NULL;
-            bool aIsDynamic = entityA && !objectA->isStaticOrKinematicObject();
-            bool bIsDynamic = entityB && !objectB->isStaticOrKinematicObject();
-
             if (a || b) {
                 // the manifold has up to 4 distinct points, but only extract info from the first
                 _contactMap[ContactKey(a, b)].update(_numContactFrames, contactManifold->getContactPoint(0), _originOffset);
             }
-            // collisions cause infectious spread of simulation-ownership.  we also attempt to take
-            // ownership of anything that collides with our avatar.
-            if ((aIsDynamic && entityA->getSimulatorID() == myNodeID) ||
-                (a && a->getShouldClaimSimulationOwnership()) ||
-                (objectA == characterCollisionObject)) {
-                if (bIsDynamic) {
-                    b->setShouldClaimSimulationOwnership(true);
-                }
-            }
-            if ((bIsDynamic && entityB->getSimulatorID() == myNodeID) ||
-                (b && b->getShouldClaimSimulationOwnership()) ||
-                (objectB == characterCollisionObject)) {
-                if (aIsDynamic) {
-                    a->setShouldClaimSimulationOwnership(true);
-                }
-            }
+
+            doOwnershipInfection(objectA, objectB);
         }
     }
     
@@ -576,11 +590,9 @@ void PhysicsEngine::removeObjectFromBullet(ObjectMotionState* motionState) {
     assert(motionState);
     btRigidBody* body = motionState->getRigidBody();
 
-    // set the about-to-be-deleted entity active in order to wake up the island it's part of.  this is done
-    // so that anything resting on top of it will fall.
-    // body->setActivationState(ACTIVE_TAG);
-    EntityItem* entity = static_cast<EntityMotionState*>(motionState)->getEntity();
-    bump(entity);
+    // wake up anything touching this object
+    EntityItem* entityItem = motionState ? motionState->getEntity() : NULL;
+    bump(entityItem);
 
     if (body) {
         const btCollisionShape* shape = body->getCollisionShape();
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicsEngine.h b/libraries/physics/src/PhysicsEngine.h
index 148261c6d2..9fe632d462 100644
--- a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicsEngine.h
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/PhysicsEngine.h
@@ -89,16 +89,19 @@ public:
 
     void dumpNextStats() { _dumpNextStats = true; }
 
+    void bump(EntityItem* bumpEntity);
+
 private:
     /// \param motionState pointer to Object's MotionState
     void removeObjectFromBullet(ObjectMotionState* motionState);
 
     void removeContacts(ObjectMotionState* motionState);
 
+    void doOwnershipInfection(const btCollisionObject* objectA, const btCollisionObject* objectB);
+
     // return 'true' of update was successful
     bool updateObjectHard(btRigidBody* body, ObjectMotionState* motionState, uint32_t flags);
     void updateObjectEasy(btRigidBody* body, ObjectMotionState* motionState, uint32_t flags);
-    void bump(EntityItem* bumpEntity);
 
     btClock _clock;
     btDefaultCollisionConfiguration* _collisionConfig = NULL;
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp
index fe82af6b3c..3508570d6a 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp
@@ -1947,14 +1947,14 @@ bool Model::renderInScene(float alpha, RenderArgs* args) {
         return false;
     }
 
-    if (args->_renderMode == RenderArgs::DEBUG_RENDER_MODE && _renderCollisionHull == false) {
+    if (args->_debugFlags == RenderArgs::RENDER_DEBUG_HULLS && _renderCollisionHull == false) {
         // turning collision hull rendering on
         _renderCollisionHull = true;
         _nextGeometry = _collisionGeometry;
         _saveNonCollisionGeometry = _geometry;
         updateGeometry();
         simulate(0.0, true);
-    } else if (args->_renderMode != RenderArgs::DEBUG_RENDER_MODE && _renderCollisionHull == true) {
+    } else if (args->_debugFlags != RenderArgs::RENDER_DEBUG_HULLS && _renderCollisionHull == true) {
         // turning collision hull rendering off
         _renderCollisionHull = false;
         _nextGeometry = _saveNonCollisionGeometry;
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/RenderArgs.h b/libraries/shared/src/RenderArgs.h
index 116fc430c2..bc3e2edb6d 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/RenderArgs.h
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/RenderArgs.h
@@ -17,16 +17,23 @@ class OctreeRenderer;
 
 class RenderArgs {
 public:
-    enum RenderMode { DEFAULT_RENDER_MODE, SHADOW_RENDER_MODE, DIFFUSE_RENDER_MODE, NORMAL_RENDER_MODE, MIRROR_RENDER_MODE, DEBUG_RENDER_MODE };
+    enum RenderMode { DEFAULT_RENDER_MODE, SHADOW_RENDER_MODE, DIFFUSE_RENDER_MODE, NORMAL_RENDER_MODE, MIRROR_RENDER_MODE };
 
     enum RenderSide { MONO, STEREO_LEFT, STEREO_RIGHT };
 
+    enum DebugFlags {
+        RENDER_DEBUG_NONE=0,
+        RENDER_DEBUG_HULLS=1,
+        RENDER_DEBUG_SIMULATION_OWNERSHIP=2
+    };
+
     OctreeRenderer* _renderer;
     ViewFrustum* _viewFrustum;
     float _sizeScale;
     int _boundaryLevelAdjust;
     RenderMode _renderMode;
     RenderSide _renderSide;
+    DebugFlags _debugFlags;
 
     int _elementsTouched;
     int _itemsRendered;