diff --git a/deploy/README.md b/deploy/README.md
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+# Argonaut 3 — Deploy Files
+
+This folder contains the systemd unit files and launch wrappers that live
+OUTSIDE the ROS2 workspace on RPi5, version-controlled here so they are
+recoverable. The files in this folder are copies — the authoritative
+running copies are at the deploy locations noted below.
+
+---
+
+## Files
+
+| Repo file | Deploy location on RPi5 | Purpose |
+|---|---|---|
+| `argonaut.service` | `/etc/systemd/system/argonaut.service` | Autonomy stack service unit |
+| `argonaut-stack.sh` | `/usr/local/bin/argonaut-stack.sh` (chmod +x) | Autonomy stack launch wrapper |
+| `argonaut-api.service` | `/etc/systemd/system/argonaut-api.service` | FastAPI backend service unit |
+| `argonaut-api.sh` | `/usr/local/bin/argonaut-api.sh` (chmod +x) | FastAPI backend launch wrapper |
+
+Also required (NOT stored here — contains environment specifics):
+`/etc/argonaut/rov.env` — EnvironmentFile for argonaut.service:
+```
+ENV=dev
+BLUEOS_IP=192.168.1.100
+RECORD=true
+```
+
+---
+
+## Python dependencies (RPi5)
+
+The FastAPI backend (`rov_api`) requires fastapi and uvicorn installed
+system-wide so they resolve regardless of which user runs the service:
+
+```
+sudo pip3 install fastapi uvicorn --break-system-packages --ignore-installed typing_extensions
+```
+
+The `--ignore-installed typing_extensions` flag is required because the
+Debian-managed `typing_extensions` package has no pip RECORD file and
+cannot be uninstalled by pip; ignoring it lets the install complete while
+leaving the Debian package in place.
+
+Confirmed working versions: fastapi 0.139.0, uvicorn 0.50.0.
+
+---
+
+## Install / re-deploy procedure
+
+From this repo folder on RPi5:
+
+```
+sudo cp deploy/argonaut.service      /etc/systemd/system/argonaut.service
+sudo cp deploy/argonaut-api.service  /etc/systemd/system/argonaut-api.service
+sudo cp deploy/argonaut-stack.sh     /usr/local/bin/argonaut-stack.sh
+sudo cp deploy/argonaut-api.sh       /usr/local/bin/argonaut-api.sh
+sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/argonaut-stack.sh /usr/local/bin/argonaut-api.sh
+sudo systemctl daemon-reload
+```
+
+---
+
+## Service management
+
+DEV POLICY: both services are installed but NOT enabled-on-boot.
+Start manually (verify BlueOS heartbeat before starting the stack):
+
+```
+sudo systemctl start argonaut.service
+sudo systemctl start argonaut-api.service
+```
+
+Field readiness — enable on boot only when field-ready:
+
+```
+sudo systemctl enable argonaut.service
+sudo systemctl enable argonaut-api.service
+```
+
+---
+
+## Notes
+
+- `/home/ubuntu/ros2_ws` is a symlink to `/data/ros2_ws` (NVMe data drive).
+  Both wrappers rely on this — do not remove the symlink.
+- `argonaut-api.service` orders After=argonaut.service but does not Require
+  it, so the API can start independently for /health checks. Mission
+  commands return a clear "service unavailable" error if the stack is down.
diff --git a/deploy/argonaut-api.service b/deploy/argonaut-api.service
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+# argonaut-api.service — Argonaut 3 FastAPI backend
+#
+# HTTP bridge from Cockpit widgets to the ROS2 autonomy stack (port 8081).
+# Endpoints: /health, /abort (W3 RETURN TO SAFE), /mission/start, /mission/stop.
+#
+# DEPLOY LOCATION: /etc/systemd/system/argonaut-api.service
+#
+# DEV POLICY (matches argonaut.service):
+#   Installed but NOT enabled-on-boot. Start manually:
+#     sudo systemctl start argonaut-api.service
+#   When field-ready, enable on boot:
+#     sudo systemctl enable argonaut-api.service
+#
+# Soft ordering After=argonaut.service so the ROS2 graph is up first, but
+# no hard Requires= — the API can still start for /health checks if the
+# stack is down (mission commands then return a clear "unavailable" error).
+
+[Unit]
+Description=Argonaut 3 FastAPI backend (HTTP -> ROS2 bridge)
+After=network-online.target argonaut.service
+Wants=network-online.target
+
+[Service]
+Type=simple
+User=ubuntu
+Group=ubuntu
+WorkingDirectory=/data/ros2_ws
+ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/argonaut-api.sh
+Restart=on-failure
+RestartSec=5
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=multi-user.target
diff --git a/deploy/argonaut-api.sh b/deploy/argonaut-api.sh
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+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# argonaut-api.sh — launch wrapper for the Argonaut 3 FastAPI backend.
+#
+# DEPLOY LOCATION: /usr/local/bin/argonaut-api.sh  (chmod +x)
+#
+# systemd does NOT read ~/.bashrc, so ROS2 and the workspace overlay must
+# be sourced explicitly here before running the node. Mirrors the
+# argonaut-stack.sh wrapper used by argonaut.service.
+#
+# Sourcing order: base ROS2 Jazzy first, then the workspace overlay so
+# rov_interfaces and rov_api resolve from the local build.
+
+set -e
+
+# Base ROS2 Jazzy environment
+source /opt/ros/jazzy/setup.bash
+
+# Workspace overlay (rov_interfaces, rov_api, etc.)
+# Note: /home/ubuntu/ros2_ws is a symlink to /data/ros2_ws (NVMe data drive).
+source /data/ros2_ws/install/setup.bash
+
+# Run the FastAPI backend node. exec replaces the shell so systemd tracks
+# the Python process directly (correct signal handling on stop/restart).
+exec ros2 run rov_api api_node
diff --git a/deploy/argonaut-stack.sh b/deploy/argonaut-stack.sh
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+++ b/deploy/argonaut-stack.sh
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+#!/bin/bash
+#
+# argonaut-stack.sh — Argonaut 3 autonomy stack launcher (called by systemd).
+#
+# DEPLOY LOCATION: /usr/local/bin/argonaut-stack.sh  (chmod +x)
+#
+# systemd does NOT read ~/.bashrc, so ROS2 and the workspace overlay must
+# be sourced explicitly. Reads ENV, BLUEOS_IP, RECORD from the systemd
+# EnvironmentFile (/etc/argonaut/rov.env).
+#
+# Note: /home/ubuntu/ros2_ws is a symlink to /data/ros2_ws (NVMe data drive),
+# so this path resolves correctly to the workspace on the NVMe.
+
+set -e
+
+# Base ROS2 Jazzy environment
+source /opt/ros/jazzy/setup.bash
+
+# Workspace overlay (via /home/ubuntu/ros2_ws symlink -> /data/ros2_ws)
+source /home/ubuntu/ros2_ws/install/setup.bash
+
+# Launch the full autonomy stack with environment-driven parameters.
+# exec replaces the shell so systemd tracks the launch process directly.
+exec ros2 launch rov_bringup rov_full.launch.py \
+  env:=${ENV} blueos_ip:=${BLUEOS_IP} record:=${RECORD}
diff --git a/deploy/argonaut.service b/deploy/argonaut.service
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+++ b/deploy/argonaut.service
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+# argonaut.service — Argonaut 3 Autonomy Stack
+#
+# Launches the full ROS2 autonomy stack via rov_bringup rov_full.launch.py.
+#
+# DEPLOY LOCATION: /etc/systemd/system/argonaut.service
+#
+# DEV POLICY:
+#   Installed but NOT enabled-on-boot. Start manually after verifying the
+#   BlueOS heartbeat:
+#     sudo systemctl start argonaut.service
+#   When field-ready, enable on boot:
+#     sudo systemctl enable argonaut.service
+#
+# Reads environment (ENV, BLUEOS_IP, RECORD) from /etc/argonaut/rov.env.
+
+[Unit]
+Description=Argonaut 3 Autonomy Stack
+After=network-online.target
+Wants=network-online.target
+
+[Service]
+Type=simple
+User=ubuntu
+EnvironmentFile=/etc/argonaut/rov.env
+ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/argonaut-stack.sh
+Restart=on-failure
+RestartSec=5
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=multi-user.target