diff --git a/scripts/tracking-camera/run_camerad_script.py b/scripts/tracking-camera/run_camerad_script.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..118d542
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/tracking-camera/run_camerad_script.py
@@ -0,0 +1,315 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Take ATC exposures through the camera_interface bindings.
+
+Does what the socksend version of this script does, but drives the camera in
+process, so there is no shell round trip and a failed command raises instead
+of printing a return code.
+
+Two acquisition styles:
+
+  counted   default; --frames per sequence, --repeat sequences
+  freerun   --freerun; one continuous session until --seconds or Ctrl-C
+  autofetch --autofetch; --frames pushed by the Archon unsolicited
+
+A window below 50x50 produces faster than anything but autofetch can read, so
+the other two modes refuse one.
+
+Needs hispec and the per-instrument bindings in the environment running it:
+
+    pip install <hispec checkout>
+    pip install <camera-interface>/packaging/tracking
+
+The camerad .cfg comes from --config, else $CAMERAD_CONFIG, else the ATC
+config in the checkout named by DEFAULT_CONFIG below. The InfluxDB token comes
+from $INFLUXDB_TOKEN; the detector temperature falls back to a default if it
+is unset or the query fails.
+"""
+
+import argparse
+import os
+import re
+import signal
+import threading
+import time
+
+from hispec.driver.tracking_camera import ReadMode, TrackingCamera
+
+# Used when neither --config nor $CAMERAD_CONFIG is given
+DEFAULT_CONFIG = "/home/hsdev/atcam/etc/hispecatc.cfg"
+
+DETECTOR_PIXELS = 2048
+# A 10x10 window reads out in about 1 ms, far faster than a non-autofetch
+# fetch; the controller then overruns the host and leaves data unread
+MIN_NON_AUTOFETCH_ROI = 50
+STOP_CHECK_S = 4.0
+DEFAULT_TEMPERATURE_K = 99.9
+INFLUX_URL = "hispec.caltech.edu:8086"
+INFLUX_ORG = "caltech"
+DETTEMP_QUERY = (
+    'from(bucket: "HISPEC") |> range(start: -30s) '
+    '|> filter(fn: (r) => r["_field"] == "tA_detector")'
+)
+
+
+def parse_args():
+    """Parse the command line."""
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Take ATC exposures.")
+    parser.add_argument("--config",
+                        default=os.environ.get("CAMERAD_CONFIG", DEFAULT_CONFIG),
+                        help="camerad .cfg file; defaults to $CAMERAD_CONFIG "
+                             "then to the ATC config")
+    parser.add_argument("--exptime", type=float, default=0,
+                        help="Exposure time, in the unit LONGEXPOSURE selects")
+    parser.add_argument("--mode", type=str, default="guiding",
+                        choices=("roi", "guiding", "fullframe"), help="Subframe mode")
+    parser.add_argument("--exposure", type=str, default="rxr",
+                        choices=tuple(m.value for m in ReadMode), help="Readout mode")
+    parser.add_argument("--roi", type=int, default=618,
+                        help="Square window size, centred; ignored for fullframe")
+    parser.add_argument("--imtype", type=str, default="TEST", help="Image type")
+    parser.add_argument("--observer", type=str, default="", help="OBSERVER header value")
+    parser.add_argument("--autofetch", action="store_true",
+                        help="stream frames unsolicited; needs a small window")
+    parser.add_argument("--freerun", action="store_true",
+                        help="Run continuously instead of taking counted frames")
+    parser.add_argument("--seconds", type=float, default=0.0,
+                        help="With --freerun, how long to run; 0 means until Ctrl-C")
+    parser.add_argument("--frames", type=int, default=3,
+                        help="Frames to acquire; reads per sequence for UTR")
+    parser.add_argument("--repeat", type=int, default=1,
+                        help="Times to repeat a counted sequence")
+    parser.add_argument("--pause", type=float, default=0,
+                        help="Seconds to pause between sequences")
+    return parser.parse_args()
+
+
+def detector_temperature():
+    """Return the detector temperature, or a default if InfluxDB is unreachable."""
+    token = os.environ.get("INFLUXDB_TOKEN")
+    if not token:
+        print("INFLUXDB_TOKEN unset: using default detector temperature")
+        return DEFAULT_TEMPERATURE_K
+    try:
+        # Imported here so the script runs without influxdb-client installed
+        from influxdb_client import InfluxDBClient  # pylint: disable=C0415
+
+        client = InfluxDBClient(url=INFLUX_URL, token=token, org=INFLUX_ORG)
+        result = client.query_api().query(org=INFLUX_ORG, query=DETTEMP_QUERY)
+        return result.to_values()[0].mapping["_value"]
+    except Exception as exc:  # pylint: disable=W0718
+        print(f"WARNING: unable to read InfluxDB ({exc}): using default")
+        return DEFAULT_TEMPERATURE_K
+
+
+def write_headers(camera, args):
+    """Write this sequence's FITS keywords to the camera."""
+    acquired = time.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S", time.gmtime()) + "Z"
+    keywords = {
+        "OBSERVER": (args.observer, "who took this"),
+        "LOCATION": ("On FEI", "where is the ATC"),
+        "IMTYPE": (args.imtype, "image type"),
+        "ACQTIME": (acquired, "UTC time of acquisition"),
+        "DETTEMP": (f"{detector_temperature()}", "detector temperature in K"),
+    }
+    for name, (value, comment) in keywords.items():
+        camera.set_fits_key(name, value, comment)
+
+
+def configure(camera, args):
+    """Apply the camera mode, readout mode and geometry.
+
+    No h2rg_init: it enables Pad B output, after which the configured taps
+    read nothing and every frame comes back zero.
+    """
+    camera.open()
+    camera.load()
+    camera.power(True)
+    camera.datacube(args.exposure in ("utr_rr", "utr_gr"))
+
+    # The camera mode reloads its parameters from the ACF, so it goes first
+    camera.set_camera_mode(args.mode)
+    camera.set_readmode(ReadMode(args.exposure))
+
+    # The window state is deliberately left as the ACF mode sets it, matching
+    # the counted script; touching it changes TAPLINES and so the frame width
+    if args.mode == "guiding":
+        low = DETECTOR_PIXELS // 2 - args.roi // 2
+        camera.set_guiding_roi(low, low + args.roi - 1, low, low + args.roi - 1)
+    elif args.mode == "roi":
+        camera.set_centred_roi(args.roi, args.roi)
+    camera.exptime(args.exptime)
+
+
+def written(camera):
+    """Return frames written per output."""
+    return {o.name: o.frames_written for o in camera.output_status()}
+
+
+def buffer_frames(camera):
+    """Return the controller's per-buffer frame counters."""
+    return dict(re.findall(r"(BUF\dFRAME)=(\d+)", camera.native("FRAME")))
+
+
+def stop_freerun(camera):
+    """Abort, disarm freerun, and report whether the detector actually stopped.
+
+    Ignores further interrupts: a second Ctrl-C here would leave the detector
+    streaming, which is the one outcome worth preventing.
+    """
+    signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, signal.SIG_IGN)
+    print("stopping (interrupts ignored until the detector is idle)")
+    # Only abort: AbortSeq clears freerun itself, and every extra command here
+    # goes to the socket the detector is streaming on
+    try:
+        camera.abort()
+    except RuntimeError as exc:
+        print(f"WARNING: abort failed ({exc})")
+
+    before = written(camera)
+    time.sleep(STOP_CHECK_S)
+    if written(camera) == before:
+        print(f"stopped: no new frames over {STOP_CHECK_S:.0f}s")
+    else:
+        print("WARNING: STILL STREAMING, the detector did not stop")
+
+
+def run_freerun(camera, args):
+    """Stream continuously until the duration elapses or Ctrl-C."""
+    write_headers(camera, args)
+    camera.set_freerun(True)
+    camera.expose(1)
+    print("freerun running; Ctrl-C to stop")
+    start = time.monotonic()
+    try:
+        while args.seconds <= 0 or time.monotonic() - start < args.seconds:
+            time.sleep(1.0)
+            print(f"  t={time.monotonic() - start:5.1f}s {written(camera)}")
+    except KeyboardInterrupt:
+        print("\ninterrupted")
+    finally:
+        stop_freerun(camera)
+
+
+def run_counted(camera, args):
+    """Take the requested frames, repeated as asked."""
+    for sequence in range(args.repeat):
+        write_headers(camera, args)
+        camera.expose(args.frames)
+        print(f"sequence {sequence + 1} of {args.repeat} complete")
+        if args.pause:
+            time.sleep(args.pause)
+
+
+# The Archon allocates a 16k network write buffer per connection and will not
+# transmit a frame that does not fit
+MAX_AUTOFETCH_BYTES = 16384
+AUTOFETCH_HEADER_LEN = 36
+BYTES_PER_PIXEL = 2
+# Every frame carries the exposure and its reset image side by side, so an
+# N column window comes back 2N wide
+FRAME_WIDTH_FACTOR = 2
+
+
+# Short enough that Ctrl-C feels immediate
+JOIN_POLL_S = 0.2
+# The producer ends when its read fails after autofetch is disarmed
+STOP_JOIN_S = 15.0
+
+
+def stop_autofetch(camera):
+    """Disarm autofetch, ignoring further interrupts until it is off.
+
+    Not camera.abort(): that writes the ACF abort parameter over the streaming
+    socket, where the reply collides with frame data. Disarming goes through
+    the controller's own control connection and clears Expose and freerun too.
+    """
+    signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, signal.SIG_IGN)
+    print("stopping (interrupts ignored until autofetch is disarmed)")
+    try:
+        camera.set_autofetch(False)
+    except RuntimeError as exc:
+        print(f"WARNING: could not disarm autofetch: {exc}")
+
+
+def run_autofetch(camera, args):
+    """Stream the requested frames with the Archon pushing them unsolicited."""
+    frame_bytes = (AUTOFETCH_HEADER_LEN
+                   + args.roi * FRAME_WIDTH_FACTOR * args.roi * BYTES_PER_PIXEL)
+    if frame_bytes >= MAX_AUTOFETCH_BYTES:
+        raise SystemExit(f"roi {args.roi} gives {frame_bytes} byte frames; autofetch "
+                         f"needs under {MAX_AUTOFETCH_BYTES}, so use a smaller roi")
+
+    write_headers(camera, args)
+    camera.set_autofetch(True)
+    print(f"autofetch running, {args.frames} frames; Ctrl-C to stop")
+    started = time.monotonic()
+    interrupted = False
+
+    # On a thread so the main thread stays able to take SIGINT: expose() blocks
+    # in C++ with the GIL released, so a handler cannot run until it returns
+    worker = threading.Thread(target=camera.expose, args=(args.frames,),
+                              name="autofetch", daemon=True)
+    worker.start()
+    try:
+        while worker.is_alive():
+            worker.join(JOIN_POLL_S)
+    except KeyboardInterrupt:
+        interrupted = True
+    finally:
+        stop_autofetch(camera)
+        worker.join(STOP_JOIN_S)
+    elapsed = time.monotonic() - started
+
+    # Per output, not summed: every output writes the same frames, so adding
+    # them reports a multiple of the real count
+    frames = max((o.frames_written for o in camera.output_status()), default=0)
+    if interrupted:
+        print(f"interrupted after {frames} frames")
+    if elapsed > 0:
+        print(f"{frames} frames in {elapsed:.2f}s = {frames / elapsed:.1f} fps")
+
+
+def main():
+    """Configure the camera, then acquire."""
+    args = parse_args()
+    if args.freerun and args.autofetch:
+        raise SystemExit("--freerun and --autofetch cannot be combined")
+    if (not args.autofetch and args.mode in ("guiding", "roi")
+            and args.roi < MIN_NON_AUTOFETCH_ROI):
+        raise SystemExit(
+            f"roi {args.roi} produces faster than a non-autofetch readout can "
+            f"fetch, which leaves data unread and wedges the controller; use "
+            f"--autofetch, raise --exptime, or use roi "
+            f"{MIN_NON_AUTOFETCH_ROI} or more")
+    if not os.path.exists(args.config):
+        raise SystemExit(f"no such config: {args.config}")
+    for name, value in sorted(vars(args).items()):
+        print(f"{name}: {value}")
+
+    camera = TrackingCamera.from_config(args.config)
+    configure(camera, args)
+
+    try:
+        acquire(camera, args)
+    finally:
+        # Nothing else releases the primary and control sockets
+        camera.close()
+
+    for output in camera.output_status():
+        print(f"{output.name}: wrote {output.frames_written}, "
+              f"dropped {output.frames_dropped}, last {output.last_written}")
+
+
+def acquire(camera, args):
+    """Dispatch to the requested acquisition mode."""
+    if args.freerun:
+        run_freerun(camera, args)
+    elif args.autofetch:
+        run_autofetch(camera, args)
+    else:
+        run_counted(camera, args)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()