diff --git a/dist/roverd b/dist/roverd
index 2aaa2b3a..d9201195 100755
Binary files a/dist/roverd and b/dist/roverd differ
diff --git a/dist/servoverifier b/dist/servoverifier
index 05731deb..2976e5ee 100755
Binary files a/dist/servoverifier and b/dist/servoverifier differ
diff --git a/pi/roverd/serial.go b/pi/roverd/serial.go
index 22f1f37c..2cc0ad28 100644
--- a/pi/roverd/serial.go
+++ b/pi/roverd/serial.go
@@ -92,6 +92,10 @@ func (s *SerialAdapter) SendRaw(raw []byte) error {
 	return s.write(raw)
 }
 
+func (s *SerialAdapter) StartOI() error {
+	return s.write([]byte{128})
+}
+
 func (s *SerialAdapter) SeekDock() error {
 	return s.write([]byte{143})
 }
diff --git a/pi/roverd/serial_dummy.go b/pi/roverd/serial_dummy.go
index 439fdc74..8b4c421b 100644
--- a/pi/roverd/serial_dummy.go
+++ b/pi/roverd/serial_dummy.go
@@ -52,6 +52,11 @@ func (s *SerialAdapter) SendRaw(raw []byte) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (s *SerialAdapter) StartOI() error {
+	s.log.Printf("[dummy] start OI")
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (s *SerialAdapter) SeekDock() error {
 	s.log.Printf("[dummy] seek dock")
 	return nil
diff --git a/pi/roverd/wsclient.go b/pi/roverd/wsclient.go
index 10f1a42b..becb83aa 100644
--- a/pi/roverd/wsclient.go
+++ b/pi/roverd/wsclient.go
@@ -15,14 +15,14 @@ type WSClient struct {
 	cfg          *Config
 	adapter      *SerialAdapter
 	sensorFrames <-chan []byte
-	events       <-chan RoverEvent
+	events       chan RoverEvent
 	media        *MediaSupervisor
 	servo        *CameraServo
 	nightVision  *NightVisionLight
 	log          *log.Logger
 }
 
-func NewWSClient(cfg *Config, adapter *SerialAdapter, frames <-chan []byte, events <-chan RoverEvent, media *MediaSupervisor, servo *CameraServo, nightVision *NightVisionLight, logger *log.Logger) *WSClient {
+func NewWSClient(cfg *Config, adapter *SerialAdapter, frames <-chan []byte, events chan RoverEvent, media *MediaSupervisor, servo *CameraServo, nightVision *NightVisionLight, logger *log.Logger) *WSClient {
 	return &WSClient{
 		cfg:          cfg,
 		adapter:      adapter,
@@ -186,11 +186,64 @@ func (c *WSClient) handleServoCommand(payload *servoPayload) error {
 }
 
 func (c *WSClient) forwardSensors(ctx context.Context, conn *websocket.Conn) {
+	const (
+		sensorSilenceTimeout   = 5 * time.Second
+		sensorRecoveryCooldown = 3 * time.Second
+	)
+
+	timer := time.NewTimer(sensorSilenceTimeout)
+	defer timer.Stop()
+
+	resetTimer := func() {
+		if !timer.Stop() {
+			select {
+			case <-timer.C:
+			default:
+			}
+		}
+		timer.Reset(sensorSilenceTimeout)
+	}
+
+	lastRecovery := time.Time{}
+	lastFrame := time.Now()
+
 	for {
 		select {
 		case <-ctx.Done():
 			return
+		case <-timer.C:
+			now := time.Now()
+			if !lastRecovery.IsZero() && now.Sub(lastRecovery) < sensorRecoveryCooldown {
+				resetTimer()
+				continue
+			}
+
+			idleFor := now.Sub(lastFrame)
+			if idleFor < 0 {
+				idleFor = sensorSilenceTimeout
+			}
+
+			c.log.Printf("no sensor frames for %v; restarting OI and sensor stream", idleFor)
+			c.emitEvent("sensorWatchdog.restart", map[string]any{
+				"idleMs": idleFor.Milliseconds(),
+			})
+			if err := c.adapter.StartOI(); err != nil {
+				c.log.Printf("start OI failed: %v", err)
+				c.emitEvent("sensorWatchdog.startOI.error", map[string]any{"error": err.Error()})
+			}
+			if err := c.ensureSensorStream(); err != nil {
+				c.log.Printf("sensor stream restart failed: %v", err)
+				c.emitEvent("sensorWatchdog.streamRestart.error", map[string]any{"error": err.Error()})
+			} else {
+				c.emitEvent("sensorWatchdog.streamRestart.ok", map[string]any{
+					"idleMs": idleFor.Milliseconds(),
+				})
+			}
+			lastRecovery = now
+			resetTimer()
 		case frame := <-c.sensorFrames:
+			resetTimer()
+			lastFrame = time.Now()
 			msg := sensorMessage{
 				Type:      "sensor",
 				Timestamp: time.Now().UnixMilli(),
@@ -224,6 +277,21 @@ func (c *WSClient) forwardEvents(ctx context.Context, conn *websocket.Conn) {
 	}
 }
 
+func (c *WSClient) emitEvent(event string, data map[string]any) {
+	if c.events == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	select {
+	case c.events <- RoverEvent{
+		Type:  "event",
+		Event: event,
+		Ts:    time.Now().UnixMilli(),
+		Data:  data,
+	}:
+	default:
+	}
+}
+
 func writeJSON(ctx context.Context, conn *websocket.Conn, v any) error {
 	data, err := json.Marshal(v)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/plans/ui_themeing_outline.md b/plans/ui_themeing_outline.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..67bbd788
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plans/ui_themeing_outline.md
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# general idea
+- users can choose from preset, and create UI themes
+- the default theme is the current in place theme
+- themes will NOT change margins, borders, padding, spacing, etc. 
+- should be as simple as changing the global css stuff
+- themes can change colors, fonts, border radius, borders, etc
+
+## technical stuff
+- save theme info in 
+
+## UI for themeing
+- allow people to tune every theme element that there is to tune
+- allow people to export themes as json files, and import them
+- 
\ No newline at end of file