diff --git a/src/aare/common/automation_models.py b/src/aare/common/automation_models.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..67be794b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/aare/common/automation_models.py
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from enum import Enum
+from typing import Any
+
+
+class WorkflowMode(str, Enum):
+    FLEXIBLE_MANUAL = "flexible_manual"
+    GUIDED_MANUAL = "guided_manual"
+    AUTOMATION = "automation"
+
+
+class WorkflowStateKind(str, Enum):
+    MOUNT = "mount"
+    LOOP_CENTRE = "loop_centre"
+    RASTER = "raster"
+    DATA_COLLECTION = "data_collection"
+
+
+class StepStatus(str, Enum):
+    PENDING = "pending"
+    RUNNING = "running"
+    SUCCESS = "success"
+    FAILED = "failed"
+    SKIPPED = "skipped"
+    PAUSED = "paused"
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class TransitionRule:
+    to_state: WorkflowStateKind
+    allowed_modes: frozenset[WorkflowMode] = frozenset()
+    optional: bool = False
+    condition_name: str | None = None
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class StateDefinition:
+    kind: WorkflowStateKind
+    transitions: tuple[TransitionRule, ...]
+    description: str = ""
+
+
+@dataclass
+class StateResult:
+    state: WorkflowStateKind
+    status: StepStatus
+    message: str = ""
+    payload: dict[str, Any] = field(default_factory=dict)
+
+
+@dataclass
+class WorkflowContext:
+    mode: WorkflowMode
+    queue_id: str
+    item_id: str
+    sample_id: int | None = None
+    current_state: WorkflowStateKind | None = None
+    current_step_index: int = 0
+    paused: bool = False
+    abort_requested: bool = False
+    last_message: str = ""
+    metadata: dict[str, Any] = field(default_factory=dict)
+
+
+STATE_REGISTRY: dict[WorkflowStateKind, StateDefinition] = {
+    WorkflowStateKind.MOUNT: StateDefinition(
+        kind=WorkflowStateKind.MOUNT,
+        description="Mount the sample",
+        transitions=(
+            TransitionRule(
+                to_state=WorkflowStateKind.LOOP_CENTRE,
+                allowed_modes=frozenset({
+                    WorkflowMode.FLEXIBLE_MANUAL,
+                    WorkflowMode.GUIDED_MANUAL,
+                    WorkflowMode.AUTOMATION,
+                }),
+            ),
+        ),
+    ),
+    WorkflowStateKind.LOOP_CENTRE: StateDefinition(
+        kind=WorkflowStateKind.LOOP_CENTRE,
+        description="Centre the loop",
+        transitions=(
+            TransitionRule(
+                to_state=WorkflowStateKind.RASTER,
+                allowed_modes=frozenset({
+                    WorkflowMode.FLEXIBLE_MANUAL,
+                    WorkflowMode.GUIDED_MANUAL,
+                    WorkflowMode.AUTOMATION,
+                }),
+            ),
+            TransitionRule(
+                to_state=WorkflowStateKind.DATA_COLLECTION,
+                allowed_modes=frozenset({
+                    WorkflowMode.FLEXIBLE_MANUAL,
+                    WorkflowMode.GUIDED_MANUAL,
+                }),
+                optional=True,
+            ),
+        ),
+    ),
+    WorkflowStateKind.RASTER: StateDefinition(
+        kind=WorkflowStateKind.RASTER,
+        description="Run raster scan",
+        transitions=(
+            TransitionRule(
+                to_state=WorkflowStateKind.DATA_COLLECTION,
+                allowed_modes=frozenset({
+                    WorkflowMode.FLEXIBLE_MANUAL,
+                    WorkflowMode.GUIDED_MANUAL,
+                    WorkflowMode.AUTOMATION,
+                }),
+            ),
+        ),
+    ),
+    WorkflowStateKind.DATA_COLLECTION: StateDefinition(
+        kind=WorkflowStateKind.DATA_COLLECTION,
+        description="Collect diffraction data",
+        transitions=(),
+    ),
+}
+
+
+def get_state_definition(kind: WorkflowStateKind) -> StateDefinition:
+    try:
+        return STATE_REGISTRY[kind]
+    except KeyError as exc:
+        raise KeyError(f"Unknown workflow state: {kind}") from exc
+
+
+def get_allowed_next_states(
+    kind: WorkflowStateKind,
+    mode: WorkflowMode | None = None,
+) -> list[WorkflowStateKind]:
+    definition = get_state_definition(kind)
+    out: list[WorkflowStateKind] = []
+
+    for transition in definition.transitions:
+        if mode is None:
+            out.append(transition.to_state)
+            continue
+
+        if not transition.allowed_modes or mode in transition.allowed_modes:
+            out.append(transition.to_state)
+
+    return out
+
+
+def can_transition(
+    from_state: WorkflowStateKind,
+    to_state: WorkflowStateKind,
+    mode: WorkflowMode | None = None,
+) -> bool:
+    return to_state in get_allowed_next_states(from_state, mode=mode)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/aare/devices/automation1_python_api.py b/src/aare/devices/automation1_python_api.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f3ca8c8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/aare/devices/automation1_python_api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,187 @@
+import os
+import sys
+import threading
+import time
+from enum import Enum
+from typing import Union
+
+import automation1 as a1
+
+from aare.common.beamline import MXBeamline, mx_beamline
+
+class AerotechController:
+    def __init__(self, controller_ip: str):
+        # if controller_ip is None:
+        #     self.controller = None
+        # else:
+        self.controller = a1.Controller.connect(controller_ip)
+
+        self.status_item_configuration = a1.StatusItemConfiguration()
+        self.start_controller()
+
+    def start_controller(self):
+        self.controller.start()
+
+    def disconnect(self):
+        self.controller.disconnect()
+
+    def enable_motion(self, axis: str):
+        self.controller.runtime.commands.motion.enable(axis.upper())
+
+    def home_motor(self, axis: str):
+        self.__configure_axis_status(axis, a1.AxisStatusItem.AxisEnabled)
+        result = self.get_status_via_status_items(name=axis, status_item=a1.AxisStatusItem.AxisEnabled)
+        if not result == a1.AxisStatusItem.AxisEnabled:
+            self.enable_motion(axis)
+        self.controller.runtime.commands.motion.home(axis.upper())
+
+    def __configure_axis_status(self, axis_name: str, axis_status_item: a1.AxisStatusItem):
+        self.status_item_configuration.axis.add(axis_status_item=axis_status_item, axis=axis_name)
+
+    def __configure_task_status(self, task_id:int, task_status_item: a1.TaskStatusItem):
+        self.status_item_configuration.task.add(task_status_item=task_status_item, task=f"Task {task_id}")
+
+    def get_status_via_status_items(self, name: str | int, status_item: a1.TaskStatusItem | a1.AxisStatusItem):
+        result = self.controller.runtime.status.get_status_items(self.status_item_configuration)
+        if int(name):
+            return result.task.get(status_item,  f"Task {name}").value
+        elif str(name):
+            return result.axis.get(status_item, name).value
+        else:
+            raise ValueError(f"Invalid status item {status_item} for task {name}")
+
+    def set_global_variable(self, index:int, value: Union[int, float, str]):
+        if type(value) is int:
+            self.controller.runtime.variables.global_.set_integer(index, value)
+        elif type(value) is float:
+            self.controller.runtime.variables.global_.set_real(index, value)
+        elif type(value) is str:
+            self.controller.runtime.variables.global_.set_string(index, value)
+        else:
+            raise ValueError(f"Invalid type {type(value)} for global variable")
+
+    def get_axis_status_via_status_items(self, axis_name:str, status_item: a1.AxisStatusItem):
+        result = self.controller.runtime.status.get_status_items(self.status_item_configuration)
+        return result.task.get(status_item, axis_name).value
+
+    def wait_for_status_to_change(self, name: str | int, status_item:a1.TaskStatusItem | a1.AxisStatusItem, enum,  timeout: float = 60.0):
+        start = time.perf_counter()
+        while self.get_status_via_status_items(name, status_item) == enum:
+            time.sleep(0.1)
+            if time.perf_counter() - start > timeout:
+                print(self.get_status_via_status_items(name, status_item))
+                raise TimeoutError(f"Timeout waiting for task {name} to finish")
+        return
+
+    def wait_program_finish(self, task_id:int=3, timeout:float=60.0):
+        start = time.perf_counter()
+        status_item = a1.TaskStatusItem.TaskState
+        while True:
+            status = self.get_status_via_status_items(task_id, status_item)
+            if status != a1.TaskState.ProgramRunning:
+                if status == a1.TaskState.Idle:
+                    return
+                elif status == a1.TaskState.ProgramComplete:
+                    print(f"Program completed on Task {task_id}")
+                    return
+                elif status == a1.TaskState.Error:
+                    raise RuntimeError(f"Task {task_id} failed to start")
+                elif status == a1.TaskState.ProgramPaused:
+                    print(f"Program paused on Task {task_id}, not sure how")
+                else:
+                    raise RuntimeError(f"Unknown status {status} for task {task_id}")
+            if time.perf_counter() - start > timeout:
+                print(self.get_status_via_status_items(task_id, status_item))
+                raise TimeoutError(f"Timeout waiting for task {task_id} to finish")
+            time.sleep(0.05)
+        print(f"Task {task_id} finished with status {status}")
+
+    def __run_program(self, script_name:str, task_id:int=3, timeout:float=60.0):
+        self.__configure_task_status(task_id, a1.TaskStatusItem.TaskState)
+        state = self.get_status_via_status_items(task_id, a1.TaskStatusItem.TaskState)
+        print(f"Task {task_id} is in state {state}: {a1.TaskState(state).name}")
+        if state != a1.TaskState.ProgramComplete and state != a1.TaskState.Idle:
+            if a1.TaskState.ProgramRunning == state:
+                self.wait_for_status_to_change(task_id, a1.TaskStatusItem.TaskState, state, timeout)
+            elif a1.TaskState.ProgramComplete == state:
+                print('can continue')
+            else:
+                print(f"Task {task_id} is not Idle: {a1.TaskState(state).name} , aborting")
+                return
+        try:
+            print(f"Running script {script_name} on task {task_id}")
+            self.controller.runtime.tasks[task_id].program.run(script_name)
+            self.wait_program_finish(task_id, timeout)
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"Error executing script {script_name}: {e}")
+
+    def run_grid_scan(self, cell_height_mm:float, num_rows:int,
+                      row_width_mm:float, time_per_row_s: float, task_id:int =3):
+        self.set_global_variable(0, cell_height_mm)
+        self.set_global_variable(1, row_width_mm)
+        self.set_global_variable(2, time_per_row_s)
+        self.set_global_variable(1, num_rows)
+        self.set_global_variable(0, 1)
+        #self.__run_program(script_name="grid_scan.a1exe", task_id=task_id, timeout=120.0)
+    def home_all(self, task_id:int = 3):
+        self.__run_program(script_name="home_all.a1exe", task_id=task_id, timeout=120.0)
+
+    def rotation_scan(self, task_id = 3, start_angle:float = 0.0, end_angle:float = 360.0, step_size:float = 1.0, num_steps:int = 10):
+        self.__run_program(script_name="rotation_scan.a1exe", task_id=task_id, timeout=90.0)
+
+    def move_motor_absolute(self, axis:str, position:float, speed:float=1.0):
+        self.controller.runtime.commands.motion.moveabsolute(axis.upper(), [position], [speed])
+
+    def move_motor_linear(self, axis: str, position: float, speed: float = 1.0):
+        self.controller.runtime.commands.motion.movelinear(axis.upper(), [position], speed)
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    beamline = mx_beamline()
+    print(beamline)
+    ### test on 10S
+    aerotech = AerotechController(controller_ip="129.129.118.96")
+    #aerotech.enable_motion("X")
+    #aerotech.home_all()
+    rw = 0.320
+    ch = 0.010
+    nr = 10
+    tpr_s = rw / ch * 0.02
+    #aerotech.run_grid_scan(cell_height_mm=ch, num_rows=nr,
+    #                       row_width_mm=rw, time_per_row_s=tpr_s)
+    # st = time.perf_counter()
+    # aerotech.move_motor_absolute("Z", 0, 10000)
+    # print(f"time to move: {time.perf_counter() - st}")
+    # aerotech.disconnect()
+    controller = a1.Controller.connect("129.129.118.96")
+    status_item_configuration = a1.StatusItemConfiguration()
+    controller.start()
+
+    axis = "X"
+
+    pso_input = a1.PsoWindowInput.iXC4ePrimaryFeedback
+    window_number = 0
+    reverse_direction = False
+    execution_task_index = 3
+    min_x_mm = 0
+    max_x_mm = 1
+
+    counts_per_unit = controller.runtime.parameters.axes[axis].units.countsperunit.value
+    print(f"Counts per unit for {axis}: {counts_per_unit}")
+    units_to_counts = controller.runtime.commands.utility_and_conversion.unitstocounts(axis,5,execution_task_index)
+    print(f"Units to counts for {axis}: {units_to_counts}")
+    print(dir(controller.runtime.commands))
+
+    primary_emulated_quadrature_divider = controller.runtime.parameters.axes[axis].feedback.primaryemulatedquadraturedivider.value
+    pso_lower_bound = round(controller.runtime.commands.utility_and_conversion.unitstocounts(axis,min_x_mm,execution_task_index)/primary_emulated_quadrature_divider)
+    pso_upper_bound = round(controller.runtime.commands.utility_and_conversion.unitstocounts(axis,max_x_mm,execution_task_index)/primary_emulated_quadrature_divider)
+
+    controller.runtime.commands.pso.psoreset(axis)
+    controller.runtime.commands.pso.psowindowconfigureinput(axis,0, pso_input, True, execution_task_index)
+    controller.runtime.commands.pso.psowindowconfigurefixedrange(axis,window_number,pso_lower_bound,pso_upper_bound,execution_task_index)
+    controller.runtime.commands.pso.psowindowoutputon(axis,window_number, execution_task_index)
+    controller.runtime.commands.motion.movelinear(axis,[1],0.1,execution_task_index)
+    controller.runtime.commands.motion.waitformotiondone(axis,execution_task_index)
+    controller.runtime.commands.motion.movelinear(axis,[-1],0.1,execution_task_index)
+    controller.runtime.commands.motion.waitformotiondone(axis,execution_task_index)
+    controller.runtime.commands.pso.psowindowoutputoff(axis,window_number, execution_task_index)
+    controller.runtime.commands.pso.psoreset(axis,execution_task_index)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/aare/gui/panels/face_detection_panel.py b/src/aare/gui/panels/face_detection_panel.py
index 9551551d..2335d0f6 100644
--- a/src/aare/gui/panels/face_detection_panel.py
+++ b/src/aare/gui/panels/face_detection_panel.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class FaceDetectionPanel(QWidget):
 
         self.fig = Figure(figsize=(5, 4))
         self.fig.subplots_adjust(
-            left=0.12,
+            left=0.18,
             right=0.97,
             bottom=0.10,
             top=0.95,