diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 09153936..8f10e1f6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -34,5 +34,12 @@ npm install
 npm run start
 ```
 
+Deploy a rover by copying the repo + `dist/roverd` to the Pi and running the helper:
+
+```bash
+cd ~/MultiRoombaRover
+sudo ./pi/install_roverd.sh --mediamtx
+```
+
 Then point each rover's `/etc/roverd.yaml` at `ws://<server>:8080/rover`, enable the sensor stream from the UI, and drive with WASD.
 Use the “Restart Camera” button if you enable media management so roverd can bounce the mediamtx service remotely.
diff --git a/dist/roverd b/dist/roverd
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..117f8af1
Binary files /dev/null and b/dist/roverd differ
diff --git a/docs/pi-deployment.md b/docs/pi-deployment.md
index 09855f43..1e16ee61 100644
--- a/docs/pi-deployment.md
+++ b/docs/pi-deployment.md
@@ -18,7 +18,33 @@ make pi-build
 
 The binary is placed in `dist/roverd` (relative to the repo root).
 
-## Installing `roverd`
+## Automated installation (recommended)
+
+Once the binary (and repo) are on the Pi, run the helper script from the repo root:
+
+```bash
+cd ~/MultiRoombaRover
+sudo ./pi/install_roverd.sh --mediamtx
+```
+
+What the script does:
+
+- creates the `roverd` (and optionally `mediamtx`) service users if missing and installs `/usr/local/bin/roverd`
+- copies `pi/roverd/roverd.sample.yaml` to `/etc/roverd.yaml` if the file is absent (existing configs are left untouched)
+- installs/enables the `roverd.service` systemd unit, restarting it automatically when a config already exists
+- when `--mediamtx` is passed, installs the sample mediaMTX config + unit, enables the service, and restarts it
+
+Flags:
+
+| Flag | Purpose |
+|------|---------|
+| `-b PATH` | use a different roverd binary (defaults to `dist/roverd`) |
+| `-c PATH` | seed `/etc/roverd.yaml` from another template |
+| `--mediamtx` | install the provided mediaMTX config + unit alongside roverd |
+
+If the script installs the sample config, it will remind you to edit `/etc/roverd.yaml` before manually restarting the service: set `name`, `serverUrl`, serial device, BRC pin, battery thresholds, and the WHEP URL that the central server should expose.
+
+## Manual installation
 
 1. Copy the binary and config:
    ```bash
diff --git a/pi/install_roverd.sh b/pi/install_roverd.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..9326db99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pi/install_roverd.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# Installer for the roverd agent on Raspberry Pi
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+BINARY_SRC="dist/roverd"
+CONFIG_SRC="pi/roverd/roverd.sample.yaml"
+INSTALL_MEDIAMTX=0
+
+usage() {
+	cat <<'USAGE'
+Usage: sudo ./pi/install_roverd.sh [options]
+
+Options:
+  -b, --binary <path>   Path to the roverd binary (default: dist/roverd)
+  -c, --config <path>   Source config to install if /etc/roverd.yaml is missing
+                        (default: pi/roverd/roverd.sample.yaml)
+      --mediamtx        Also install mediaMTX unit/config (requires pi/mediamtx files)
+  -h, --help            Show this help text
+
+The script must run from the repository root and as root (sudo). It will:
+  * create system users/groups if needed
+  * install /usr/local/bin/roverd and /etc/roverd.yaml
+  * install /etc/systemd/system/roverd.service and enable the service
+  * optionally install mediaMTX config/unit when --mediamtx is set
+USAGE
+}
+
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+	case "$1" in
+		-b|--binary)
+			BINARY_SRC="${2:-}"
+			shift 2
+			;;
+		-c|--config)
+			CONFIG_SRC="${2:-}"
+			shift 2
+			;;
+		--mediamtx)
+			INSTALL_MEDIAMTX=1
+			shift
+			;;
+		-h|--help)
+			usage
+			exit 0
+			;;
+		*)
+			echo "Unknown option: $1" >&2
+			usage
+			exit 1
+			;;
+	esac
+done
+
+if [[ "${EUID}" -ne 0 ]]; then
+	echo "Please run as root (sudo)" >&2
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+if [[ ! -f "$BINARY_SRC" ]]; then
+	echo "Binary not found at $BINARY_SRC" >&2
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+if [[ ! -f "$CONFIG_SRC" ]]; then
+	echo "Config source not found at $CONFIG_SRC" >&2
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+ensure_user() {
+	local user="$1"
+	local groups="$2"
+	if ! id -u "$user" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+		useradd -r -s /usr/sbin/nologin -G "$groups" "$user"
+	fi
+}
+
+log() {
+	echo "[$(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ)] $*"
+}
+
+ensure_user roverd "dialout,gpio"
+install -o roverd -g roverd -m 0755 "$BINARY_SRC" /usr/local/bin/roverd
+log "Installed roverd binary"
+
+CONFIG_DEST="/etc/roverd.yaml"
+CONFIG_EXISTS=0
+if [[ -f "$CONFIG_DEST" ]]; then
+	CONFIG_EXISTS=1
+	log "Existing $CONFIG_DEST found; leaving it in place"
+else
+	install -D -o roverd -g roverd -m 0640 "$CONFIG_SRC" "$CONFIG_DEST"
+	log "Installed sample config to $CONFIG_DEST (edit before starting service)"
+fi
+
+install -m 0644 pi/systemd/roverd.service /etc/systemd/system/roverd.service
+log "Installed roverd systemd unit"
+
+systemctl daemon-reload
+systemctl enable roverd.service
+if [[ $CONFIG_EXISTS -eq 1 ]]; then
+	systemctl restart roverd.service
+	log "Restarted roverd.service"
+else
+	log "Skipped auto-start because config is the sample; edit $CONFIG_DEST then run: sudo systemctl restart roverd"
+fi
+
+if [[ $INSTALL_MEDIAMTX -eq 1 ]]; then
+	if [[ ! -f "pi/mediamtx/mediamtx.yml" ]]; then
+		echo "pi/mediamtx/mediamtx.yml missing, cannot install mediaMTX config" >&2
+		exit 1
+	fi
+	if [[ ! -f "pi/systemd/mediamtx.service" ]]; then
+		echo "pi/systemd/mediamtx.service missing, cannot install mediaMTX unit" >&2
+		exit 1
+	fi
+
+	ensure_user mediamtx ""
+	install -d -o mediamtx -g mediamtx /etc/mediamtx
+	install -o mediamtx -g mediamtx -m 0644 pi/mediamtx/mediamtx.yml /etc/mediamtx/mediamtx.yml
+	install -m 0644 pi/systemd/mediamtx.service /etc/systemd/system/mediamtx.service
+	log "Installed mediamtx config and unit"
+
+	systemctl daemon-reload
+	systemctl enable mediamtx.service
+	systemctl restart mediamtx.service
+	log "Restarted mediamtx.service"
+fi
+
+log "Install complete"