diff --git a/aruco/ArucoDetector.py b/aruco/ArucoDetector.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..001ea89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/aruco/ArucoDetector.py
@@ -0,0 +1,217 @@
+import pyrealsense2 as rs
+import numpy as np
+import cv2
+import cv2.aruco as aruco
+import time
+
+class ArucoDetector:
+    def __init__(self, aruco_dict_type=aruco.DICT_5X5_250):
+        self.pipeline = rs.pipeline()
+        self.config = rs.config()
+        self.config.enable_stream(rs.stream.depth, 848, 480, rs.format.z16, 60)
+        self.config.enable_stream(rs.stream.color, 848, 480, rs.format.bgr8, 60)
+        
+        # Align the two cameras since there is physical offset
+        self.align_to = rs.stream.color
+        self.align = rs.align(self.align_to)
+        
+        # Use 6x6_250 Dict aruco library
+        self.aruco_dict = aruco.Dictionary_get(aruco_dict_type)
+        self.aruco_params = aruco.DetectorParameters_create()
+        
+        # Dictionary to hold marker positions
+        self.marker_positions = {}
+        
+        # Variable to hold camera intrinsics
+        self.intrinsics = None
+    
+    def __del__(self):
+        # Destructor to safely close windows and stop the stream
+        print("Closing ArucoDetector and releasing resources")
+        try:
+            if self.pipeline:
+                self.pipeline.stop()
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"Error stopping pipeline: {e}")
+        finally:
+            cv2.destroyAllWindows()
+            # set back to auto exposure
+            color_sensor = self.profile.get_device().first_color_sensor()
+            color_sensor.set_option(rs.option.enable_auto_exposure, 1)
+    
+    # same as desructor, can be manually called
+    def uninitialize(self):
+        # Destructor to safely close windows and stop the stream
+        print("Closing ArucoDetector and releasing resources")
+        try:
+            if self.pipeline:
+                self.pipeline.stop()
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"Error stopping pipeline: {e}")
+        finally:
+            cv2.destroyAllWindows()
+            # set back to auto exposure
+            color_sensor = self.profile.get_device().first_color_sensor()
+            color_sensor.set_option(rs.option.enable_auto_exposure, 1)
+
+            
+    def start_stream(self):
+        # Start the pipeline
+        self.profile = self.pipeline.start(self.config)
+        # Get the camera intrinsics from the color stream
+        self.intrinsics = self.profile.get_stream(rs.stream.color).as_video_stream_profile().get_intrinsics()
+
+    def stop_stream(self):
+        # Stop the pipeline
+        self.pipeline.stop()
+    
+    """
+        Automatically calibrate the camera's exposure to detect ArUco markers.
+        Args:
+            min_exposure (int): Minimum exposure value to start from.
+            max_exposure (int): Maximum exposure value to go up to.
+            step (int): Step size to increment exposure.
+            frames_to_check (int): Number of frames to check at each exposure level.
+        """
+    def auto_calibration(self, min_exposure=50, max_exposure=2000, step=50, frames_to_check=5):
+        color_sensor = self.profile.get_device().first_color_sensor()
+        color_sensor.set_option(rs.option.enable_auto_exposure, 0)
+
+        best_exposure = min_exposure
+        max_detected_markers = 0
+
+        for exposure_value in range(min_exposure, max_exposure + 1, step):
+            color_sensor.set_option(rs.option.exposure, exposure_value)
+            print(f"Setting exposure to {exposure_value} and checking markers...")
+
+            markers_detected = 0
+
+            for frame_count in range(frames_to_check):
+                aligned_depth_frame, color_image = self.process_frames()
+                if color_image is not None and aligned_depth_frame is not None:
+                    # Display the live RGB output
+                    cv2.imshow('Calibration - RGB Output', color_image)
+                    if cv2.waitKey(1) & 0xFF == ord('q'):  # Exit if 'q' is pressed
+                        cv2.destroyAllWindows()
+                        return
+
+                    gray = cv2.cvtColor(color_image, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)
+                    corners, ids, _ = aruco.detectMarkers(gray, self.aruco_dict, parameters=self.aruco_params)
+
+                    if ids is not None:
+                        markers_detected += len(ids)
+
+                time.sleep(0.02)  # Give some time for the camera to adjust if needed
+
+            print(f"Exposure: {exposure_value}, Markers Detected: {markers_detected}")
+            if markers_detected > max_detected_markers:
+                max_detected_markers = markers_detected
+                best_exposure = exposure_value
+                print(f"New best exposure found: {best_exposure} with {markers_detected} markers detected.")
+
+        # After finding the best exposure, set the camera to use it
+        color_sensor.set_option(rs.option.exposure, best_exposure)
+        print(f"Auto-calibration complete. Best exposure set to {best_exposure}.")
+        cv2.destroyAllWindows()
+    
+    # reset from manual exposure to built in auto-exposure
+    def reset_exposure(self):
+        # Get the color sensor from the connected device
+        color_sensor = self.profile.get_device().first_color_sensor()
+        
+        # Set the exposure mode back to automatic
+        color_sensor.set_option(rs.option.enable_auto_exposure, 1)
+        print("Exposure reset to automatic.")
+
+        
+    # non-blocking processing of frames (poll_for_frames)
+    def process_frames(self):
+        # Attempt to retrieve the next set of frames
+        frames = self.pipeline.poll_for_frames()
+
+        # Check if frames are available
+        if frames:
+            aligned_frames = self.align.process(frames)
+            aligned_depth_frame = aligned_frames.get_depth_frame()
+            color_frame = aligned_frames.get_color_frame()
+
+            if not aligned_depth_frame or not color_frame:
+                return None, None
+
+            # Convert color image to numpy array
+            color_image = np.asanyarray(color_frame.get_data())
+
+            return aligned_depth_frame, color_image
+        else:
+            # No new frames available
+            return None, None
+
+    
+# ### helper functions for update_marker_positions ### #
+    #  calculates x, y, z position
+    def calculate_m (self, x_pixel, y_pixel, depth_frame):
+        # Get depth value
+        depth = depth_frame.get_distance(x_pixel, y_pixel)
+
+        # Deproject pixels to 3D space
+        point_3D = rs.rs2_deproject_pixel_to_point(self.intrinsics, [x_pixel, y_pixel], depth)      
+        
+        # Adjust y-coordinate so that up is positive y
+        # spec sheet gives that camera is -4.2mm from front glass
+        x, y, z = point_3D
+        y = -y  
+        z = z - 0.0042
+                
+        # Convert from meters to centimeters
+        # consistently 6mm too much?
+        # x_cm, y_cm, z_cm = x * 100, y * 100, z * 100 
+        
+        return x, y, z 
+    
+    # Display the 3D coordinates next to the marker
+    # display x, y, z in different lines
+    def display(self, color_image, x_pixel, y_pixel, marker_id):
+        # Get the position data from the dictionary
+        x, y, z = self.marker_positions[marker_id]
+        
+        coord_text = (f"ID {marker_id}:\n"
+                      f"X={x:.4f}m\n"
+                      f"Y={y:.4f}m\n"
+                      f"Z={z:.4f}m")
+        for j, line in enumerate(coord_text.split('\n')):
+            y_offset = y_pixel + 20 + (15 * j)
+            cv2.putText(color_image, line, (x_pixel + 20, y_offset), 
+                        cv2.FONT_HERSHEY_PLAIN, 1, (0, 0, 255), 2)    
+            
+            
+# ######################################################## # 
+    
+    def update_marker_positions(self, color_image, depth_frame):
+        # Detect ArUco markers
+        gray = cv2.cvtColor(color_image, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)
+        corners, ids, rejectedImgPoints = aruco.detectMarkers(gray, self.aruco_dict, parameters=self.aruco_params)
+
+        if ids is not None:
+            # Draw detected markers
+            aruco.drawDetectedMarkers(color_image, corners, ids)
+
+            for i in range(len(ids)):
+                # Average the corners for better center estimation
+                center = np.mean(corners[i][0], axis=0)
+                x_pixel, y_pixel = int(center[0]), int(center[1])
+
+                # calulcate position in 3D space in cm
+                x, y, z = self.calculate_m(x_pixel, y_pixel, depth_frame)
+                
+                # Update the dictionary with the latest position data
+                marker_id = ids[i][0]
+                self.marker_positions[marker_id] = [x, y, z]
+
+                self.display(color_image, x_pixel, y_pixel, marker_id)
+                
+        return color_image
+
+    def get_marker_position(self, marker_id):
+        # Retrieve the latest recorded position of a marker by its ID
+        # return is x, y, z as a list of floats
+        return self.marker_positions.get(marker_id)
diff --git a/aruco/DICT_5X5_250/DICT_5X5_id0.png b/aruco/DICT_5X5_250/DICT_5X5_id0.png
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diff --git a/aruco/__init__.py b/aruco/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..be246e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/aruco/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+from .ArucoDetector import ArucoDetector
+from .generate_aruco import generate_aruco
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/aruco/generate_aruco.py b/aruco/generate_aruco.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..75fd3a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/aruco/generate_aruco.py
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+from typing import List, Union
+import cv2
+import cv2.aruco as aruco
+import numpy as np
+import os
+
+# Define the ArUco dictionary constants
+DICT_4X4 = aruco.DICT_4X4_250
+DICT_5X5 = aruco.DICT_5X5_250
+DICT_6X6 = aruco.DICT_6X6_250
+DICT_7X7 = aruco.DICT_7X7_250
+
+# Mapping of dictionary constants to their string names
+DICT_MAPPING = {
+    DICT_4X4: "DICT_4X4",
+    DICT_5X5: "DICT_5X5",
+    DICT_6X6: "DICT_6X6",
+    DICT_7X7: "DICT_7X7"
+}
+
+
+"""
+Generate ArUco markers for the given IDs and tag types.
+
+:param ids: List of IDs for the ArUco markers.
+:param tag_types: ArUco tag type or a list of tag types to be used.
+:param size: Size of the ArUco markers.
+:param file_format: File format for the output images.
+:param directory: Directory where the ArUco markers will be saved.
+"""
+def aruco_generator(ids: List[int], 
+                    tag_types: Union[int, List[int]] = DICT_6X6, 
+                    size: int = 200, 
+                    file_format: str = 'png', 
+                    directory: str = 'aruco_markers') -> None:
+    
+    if isinstance(tag_types, int):
+        tag_types = [tag_types]
+
+    # Create the directory if it doesn't exist
+    if not os.path.exists(directory):
+        os.makedirs(directory)
+    
+    # Loop through each tag type
+    for tag_type in tag_types:
+        # Get the ArUco dictionary
+        aruco_dict = aruco.Dictionary_get(tag_type)
+        tag_type_str = DICT_MAPPING[tag_type] # Get the string representation
+        
+        # Generate markers for each id
+        for id in ids:
+            # Generate the marker
+            img = aruco.drawMarker(aruco_dict, id, size)
+            
+            # Construct the file name
+            file_name = f"{tag_type_str}_id{id}.{file_format}"
+            file_path = os.path.join(directory, file_name)
+            
+            # Save the marker to a file
+            cv2.imwrite(file_path, img)
+            
+    print(f"Generated {len(ids) * len(tag_types)} ArUco markers in '{directory}' directory.")
+
+
+# Example usage:
+ids = [0, 1, 2, 3]
+tag_types = [DICT_5X5] 
+# Generate ArUco markers
+aruco_generator(ids, tag_types, 200, "png", "DICT_5X5_250")
diff --git a/aruco/reset.py b/aruco/reset.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dd2b617
--- /dev/null
+++ b/aruco/reset.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+import pyrealsense2 as rs
+
+def reset_camera_settings():
+    # Create a context object. This object owns the handles to all connected realsense devices
+    ctx = rs.context()
+    devices = ctx.query_devices()
+    for dev in devices:
+        # The following method is used to reset the hardware device
+        print("Resetting device:", dev.get_info(rs.camera_info.name))
+        dev.hardware_reset()
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    reset_camera_settings()
diff --git a/aruco/test_aruco.py b/aruco/test_aruco.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..945e0a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/aruco/test_aruco.py
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+# the size of my aruco tags is 1.97inch, or 0.05m
+from ArucoDetector import ArucoDetector
+import cv2
+
+
+def aruco_test():
+    # Initialize the ArucoDetector
+    aruco_detector = ArucoDetector(cv2.aruco.DICT_5X5_250)
+
+    # Start the camera stream   
+    aruco_detector.start_stream()
+
+    # Set the exposure of the camera
+    aruco_detector.auto_calibration()  # Make sure this value is within the supported range
+
+    while True:
+        # Process frames from the camera
+        aligned_depth_frame, color_image = aruco_detector.process_frames()
+        if color_image is not None and aligned_depth_frame is not None:
+            # Update marker positions in the frame
+            color_image = aruco_detector.update_marker_positions(color_image, aligned_depth_frame)
+            # Display the image
+            cv2.imshow('RealSense Color', color_image)
+
+        # buttons to test functions
+        key = cv2.waitKey(1) & 0xFF
+
+        # Check for 'c' key to run auto_calibration
+        if key == ord('c'):
+            aruco_detector.auto_calibration()
+
+        # Check for 'r' key to reset exposure
+        elif key == ord('r'):
+            aruco_detector.reset_exposure()
+
+        # Break the loop when 'q' is pressed
+        elif key == ord('q'):
+            break
+
+    # Clean up resources properly
+    aruco_detector.uninitialize()
+    # cv2.destroyAllWindows() # redundant
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    aruco_test()