diff --git a/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/config/led_config.yaml b/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/config/led_config.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fecefb2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/config/led_config.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+# NeoPixel LED Controller Configuration
+
+# Hardware configuration
+hardware:
+  num_leds: 30              # Total number of NeoPixels
+  gpio_pin: 18              # GPIO pin for data line
+  brightness_max: 255       # Maximum brightness (0-255)
+  brightness_min: 10        # Minimum brightness for visible LEDs
+  update_frequency: 30      # Update frequency in Hz
+
+# Brightness control
+brightness:
+  enabled: true
+  auto_dim: true            # Enable automatic brightness dimming
+  day_brightness: 200       # Daytime brightness (0-255)
+  night_brightness: 80      # Night-time brightness (0-255)
+  dim_threshold: 50         # Light sensor threshold for dimming
+
+# Animation settings
+animation:
+  transition_duration: 0.5  # Smooth transition duration in seconds
+  breathing_speed: 1.5      # Breathing pattern speed (cycles/sec)
+  pulse_speed: 2.0          # Pulse pattern speed (cycles/sec)
+  chase_speed: 3.0          # Chase pattern speed (LEDs/sec)
+
+# LED patterns: define colors as [R, G, B] (0-255)
+patterns:
+  idle:
+    name: "Breathing Blue"
+    color: [0, 50, 200]
+    pattern: "breathing"
+    speed: 1.5
+
+  follow:
+    name: "Green Pulse"
+    color: [0, 200, 50]
+    pattern: "pulse"
+    speed: 2.0
+
+  error:
+    name: "Red Flash"
+    color: [255, 0, 0]
+    pattern: "flash"
+    speed: 3.0
+
+  celebrate:
+    name: "Rainbow"
+    color: null             # Rainbow uses spectrum
+    pattern: "rainbow"
+    speed: 2.0
+
+  low_battery:
+    name: "Amber Warning"
+    color: [255, 165, 0]
+    pattern: "pulse"
+    speed: 1.5
+
+  search:
+    name: "White Chase"
+    color: [255, 255, 255]
+    pattern: "chase"
+    speed: 3.0
+
+# State priorities (higher value = higher priority)
+state_priorities:
+  error: 100
+  low_battery: 50
+  celebrate: 40
+  follow: 30
+  idle: 10
+
+# Subscription topics
+subscriptions:
+  battery: "/saltybot/battery/level"
+  balance: "/saltybot/balance/status"
+  social: "/saltybot/social/state"
+  emotion: "/saltybot/emotion/state"
+  health: "/saltybot/health/status"
+
+# Publishing topics
+publications:
+  led_state: "/saltybot/led_state"
+
+# Thresholds
+thresholds:
+  low_battery_percent: 20   # Battery % to trigger low battery LED
+  error_timeout: 2.0        # Seconds without heartbeat before error
diff --git a/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/launch/led_controller.launch.py b/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/launch/led_controller.launch.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d81374b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/launch/led_controller.launch.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+"""Launch file for LED Controller node."""
+
+from launch import LaunchDescription
+from launch_ros.actions import Node
+from launch.substitutions import LaunchConfiguration
+from launch.actions import DeclareLaunchArgument
+from ament_index_python.packages import get_package_share_directory
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+def generate_launch_description():
+    """Generate launch description."""
+    package_dir = get_package_share_directory("saltybot_led_controller")
+    config_file = str(Path(package_dir) / "config" / "led_config.yaml")
+
+    # Launch arguments
+    config_arg = DeclareLaunchArgument(
+        "config_file",
+        default_value=config_file,
+        description="Path to LED configuration file",
+    )
+
+    # LED Controller node
+    led_node = Node(
+        package="saltybot_led_controller",
+        executable="led_controller_node",
+        name="led_controller",
+        parameters=[
+            {
+                "config_file": LaunchConfiguration("config_file"),
+            }
+        ],
+        output="screen",
+    )
+
+    return LaunchDescription([config_arg, led_node])
diff --git a/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/package.xml b/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/package.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd5a318
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/package.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+<?xml version="1.0"?>
+<?xml-model href="http://download.ros.org/schema/package_format3.xsd" schematypens="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"?>
+<package format="3">
+  <name>saltybot_led_controller</name>
+  <version>0.1.0</version>
+  <description>
+    NeoPixel LED strip controller for SaltyBot. Subscribes to system state topics
+    (battery, balance, social, emotion, health) and renders animated LED patterns
+    with smooth transitions. Supports configurable LED count, GPIO pin, and brightness.
+    Publishes LED state status.
+  </description>
+  <maintainer email="sl-mechanical@saltylab.local">sl-mechanical</maintainer>
+  <license>MIT</license>
+
+  <depend>rclpy</depend>
+  <depend>std_msgs</depend>
+
+  <buildtool_depend>ament_python</buildtool_depend>
+
+  <test_depend>ament_copyright</test_depend>
+  <test_depend>ament_flake8</test_depend>
+  <test_depend>ament_pep257</test_depend>
+  <test_depend>python3-pytest</test_depend>
+
+  <export>
+    <build_type>ament_python</build_type>
+  </export>
+</package>
diff --git a/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/resource/saltybot_led_controller b/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/resource/saltybot_led_controller
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/saltybot_led_controller/__init__.py b/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/saltybot_led_controller/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/saltybot_led_controller/led_controller_node.py b/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/saltybot_led_controller/led_controller_node.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8000969
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/saltybot_led_controller/led_controller_node.py
@@ -0,0 +1,422 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""NeoPixel LED Controller for SaltyBot.
+
+Subscribes to system state topics (battery, balance, social, emotion, health)
+and renders animated LED patterns with smooth transitions. Supports configurable
+LED count, GPIO pin, and auto-dim brightness.
+
+Published topics:
+  /saltybot/led_state (std_msgs/String) - JSON LED status
+
+Subscribed topics:
+  /saltybot/battery/level (std_msgs/String) - Battery percentage
+  /saltybot/balance/status (std_msgs/String) - Balance state
+  /saltybot/social/state (std_msgs/String) - Social state
+  /saltybot/emotion/state (std_msgs/String) - Emotion state
+  /saltybot/health/status (std_msgs/String) - Health status
+"""
+
+import json
+import math
+import time
+from dataclasses import dataclass, asdict
+from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Tuple
+from pathlib import Path
+from enum import Enum
+
+import yaml
+import rclpy
+from rclpy.node import Node
+from rclpy.timer import Timer
+from std_msgs.msg import String
+
+
+class LEDState(Enum):
+    """LED display states ordered by priority."""
+    ERROR = 100
+    LOW_BATTERY = 50
+    CELEBRATE = 40
+    FOLLOW = 30
+    IDLE = 10
+
+
+@dataclass
+class LEDColor:
+    """RGB color representation."""
+    r: int
+    g: int
+    b: int
+
+    def __post_init__(self):
+        """Clamp values to 0-255."""
+        self.r = max(0, min(255, self.r))
+        self.g = max(0, min(255, self.g))
+        self.b = max(0, min(255, self.b))
+
+    def to_tuple(self) -> Tuple[int, int, int]:
+        """Return as RGB tuple."""
+        return (self.r, self.g, self.b)
+
+    def scale(self, factor: float) -> "LEDColor":
+        """Scale color by factor (0.0-1.0)."""
+        return LEDColor(
+            int(self.r * factor),
+            int(self.g * factor),
+            int(self.b * factor),
+        )
+
+
+class LEDPattern:
+    """Base class for LED animation patterns."""
+
+    def __init__(self, color: Optional[LEDColor], num_leds: int, speed: float = 1.0):
+        """Initialize pattern.
+
+        Args:
+            color: RGB color or None for rainbow
+            num_leds: Total number of LEDs
+            speed: Animation speed multiplier
+        """
+        self.color = color
+        self.num_leds = num_leds
+        self.speed = speed
+        self.time_offset = 0.0
+
+    def update(self, dt: float, brightness: float) -> List[Tuple[int, int, int]]:
+        """Generate LED frame.
+
+        Args:
+            dt: Delta time since last frame
+            brightness: Brightness multiplier (0.0-1.0)
+
+        Returns:
+            List of RGB tuples for each LED
+        """
+        self.time_offset += dt * self.speed
+        return self._generate_frame(brightness)
+
+    def _generate_frame(self, brightness: float) -> List[Tuple[int, int, int]]:
+        """Generate frame. Subclasses should override."""
+        return [(0, 0, 0)] * self.num_leds
+
+
+class BreathingPattern(LEDPattern):
+    """Smooth breathing animation."""
+
+    def _generate_frame(self, brightness: float) -> List[Tuple[int, int, int]]:
+        """Breathing pulse based on sine wave."""
+        # Sine wave from 0.3 to 1.0 for breathing effect
+        breath_factor = 0.65 + 0.35 * math.sin(2 * math.pi * self.time_offset)
+        scaled_color = self.color.scale(breath_factor * brightness)
+        return [scaled_color.to_tuple()] * self.num_leds
+
+
+class PulsePattern(LEDPattern):
+    """Quick pulse animation."""
+
+    def _generate_frame(self, brightness: float) -> List[Tuple[int, int, int]]:
+        """Pulse with steeper rise/fall."""
+        # Triangular wave for snappier pulse
+        cycle = (self.time_offset % 1.0)  # 0 to 1
+        pulse_factor = 1.0 - abs(2.0 * (cycle - 0.5)) if cycle < 1.0 else 0
+        pulse_factor = 0.2 + 0.8 * pulse_factor
+        scaled_color = self.color.scale(pulse_factor * brightness)
+        return [scaled_color.to_tuple()] * self.num_leds
+
+
+class FlashPattern(LEDPattern):
+    """Fast on/off flashing."""
+
+    def _generate_frame(self, brightness: float) -> List[Tuple[int, int, int]]:
+        """Flash pattern: on/off."""
+        cycle = self.time_offset % 1.0
+        flash_on = cycle < 0.5
+        factor = brightness if flash_on else 0.0
+        scaled_color = self.color.scale(factor)
+        return [scaled_color.to_tuple()] * self.num_leds
+
+
+class RainbowPattern(LEDPattern):
+    """Animated rainbow spectrum."""
+
+    def _generate_frame(self, brightness: float) -> List[Tuple[int, int, int]]:
+        """Rainbow spectrum with animation."""
+        colors = []
+        for i in range(self.num_leds):
+            # Hue cycles across strip with animation
+            hue = ((i / self.num_leds) + self.time_offset) % 1.0
+            rgb = self._hsv_to_rgb(hue, 1.0, brightness)
+            colors.append(rgb)
+        return colors
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _hsv_to_rgb(h: float, s: float, v: float) -> Tuple[int, int, int]:
+        """Convert HSV to RGB."""
+        c = v * s
+        x = c * (1 - abs((h * 6) % 2 - 1))
+        m = v - c
+
+        if h < 1/6:
+            r, g, b = c, x, 0
+        elif h < 2/6:
+            r, g, b = x, c, 0
+        elif h < 3/6:
+            r, g, b = 0, c, x
+        elif h < 4/6:
+            r, g, b = 0, x, c
+        elif h < 5/6:
+            r, g, b = x, 0, c
+        else:
+            r, g, b = c, 0, x
+
+        return (
+            int((r + m) * 255),
+            int((g + m) * 255),
+            int((b + m) * 255),
+        )
+
+
+class ChasePattern(LEDPattern):
+    """Moving light chase across strip."""
+
+    def _generate_frame(self, brightness: float) -> List[Tuple[int, int, int]]:
+        """Chasing light pattern."""
+        colors = [(0, 0, 0)] * self.num_leds
+        pos = int((self.time_offset * self.num_leds) % self.num_leds)
+
+        # Bright center with trailing fade
+        for offset in range(-3, 4):
+            idx = (pos + offset) % self.num_leds
+            if offset == 0:
+                factor = brightness
+            else:
+                factor = brightness * max(0, 1.0 - abs(offset) / 3.0)
+            scaled = self.color.scale(factor)
+            colors[idx] = scaled.to_tuple()
+
+        return colors
+
+
+class LEDControllerNode(Node):
+    """ROS2 node for LED control."""
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        super().__init__("led_controller")
+
+        # Load config
+        self.declare_parameter("config_file", "led_config.yaml")
+        config_path = self.get_parameter("config_file").value
+        self.config = self._load_config(config_path)
+
+        # Hardware
+        self.num_leds = self.config["hardware"]["num_leds"]
+        self.gpio_pin = self.config["hardware"]["gpio_pin"]
+        self.brightness_max = self.config["hardware"]["brightness_max"]
+        self.brightness_min = self.config["hardware"]["brightness_min"]
+        self.update_freq = self.config["hardware"]["update_frequency"]
+
+        # State tracking
+        self.battery_level = 100
+        self.balance_state = "idle"
+        self.social_state = "idle"
+        self.emotion_state = "idle"
+        self.health_state = "ok"
+        self.last_update = time.time()
+        self.last_state = None
+        self.current_pattern: Optional[LEDPattern] = None
+        self.transition_time = 0.0
+
+        # Subscribers
+        self.create_subscription(String, "/saltybot/battery/level", self._battery_cb, 10)
+        self.create_subscription(String, "/saltybot/balance/status", self._balance_cb, 10)
+        self.create_subscription(String, "/saltybot/social/state", self._social_cb, 10)
+        self.create_subscription(String, "/saltybot/emotion/state", self._emotion_cb, 10)
+        self.create_subscription(String, "/saltybot/health/status", self._health_cb, 10)
+
+        # Publisher
+        self.led_state_pub = self.create_publisher(String, "/saltybot/led_state", 10)
+
+        # Timer
+        period = 1.0 / self.update_freq
+        self.timer = self.create_timer(period, self._update_leds)
+
+        self.get_logger().info(
+            f"LED Controller initialized: {self.num_leds} LEDs on GPIO{self.gpio_pin}"
+        )
+
+    def _load_config(self, config_path: str) -> Dict:
+        """Load YAML configuration."""
+        try:
+            with open(config_path) as f:
+                return yaml.safe_load(f)
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            self.get_logger().warn(
+                f"Config not found: {config_path}, using defaults"
+            )
+            return self._default_config()
+
+    def _default_config(self) -> Dict:
+        """Return default configuration."""
+        return {
+            "hardware": {
+                "num_leds": 30,
+                "gpio_pin": 18,
+                "brightness_max": 255,
+                "brightness_min": 10,
+                "update_frequency": 30,
+            },
+            "animation": {
+                "transition_duration": 0.5,
+                "breathing_speed": 1.5,
+                "pulse_speed": 2.0,
+                "chase_speed": 3.0,
+            },
+            "patterns": {
+                "idle": {"color": [0, 50, 200], "pattern": "breathing", "speed": 1.5},
+                "follow": {"color": [0, 200, 50], "pattern": "pulse", "speed": 2.0},
+                "error": {"color": [255, 0, 0], "pattern": "flash", "speed": 3.0},
+                "celebrate": {"color": None, "pattern": "rainbow", "speed": 2.0},
+                "low_battery": {"color": [255, 165, 0], "pattern": "pulse", "speed": 1.5},
+                "search": {"color": [255, 255, 255], "pattern": "chase", "speed": 3.0},
+            },
+            "thresholds": {"low_battery_percent": 20},
+        }
+
+    def _battery_cb(self, msg: String):
+        """Handle battery level."""
+        try:
+            data = json.loads(msg.data)
+            self.battery_level = data.get("level", 100)
+        except (json.JSONDecodeError, KeyError):
+            pass
+
+    def _balance_cb(self, msg: String):
+        """Handle balance state."""
+        try:
+            data = json.loads(msg.data)
+            self.balance_state = data.get("state", "idle")
+        except json.JSONDecodeError:
+            pass
+
+    def _social_cb(self, msg: String):
+        """Handle social state."""
+        try:
+            data = json.loads(msg.data)
+            self.social_state = data.get("state", "idle")
+        except json.JSONDecodeError:
+            pass
+
+    def _emotion_cb(self, msg: String):
+        """Handle emotion state."""
+        try:
+            data = json.loads(msg.data)
+            self.emotion_state = data.get("state", "idle")
+        except json.JSONDecodeError:
+            pass
+
+    def _health_cb(self, msg: String):
+        """Handle health status."""
+        try:
+            data = json.loads(msg.data)
+            self.health_state = data.get("status", "ok")
+        except json.JSONDecodeError:
+            pass
+
+    def _determine_state(self) -> str:
+        """Determine highest priority LED state."""
+        if self.health_state == "error":
+            return "error"
+
+        if self.battery_level < self.config["thresholds"]["low_battery_percent"]:
+            return "low_battery"
+
+        if self.emotion_state == "celebrate":
+            return "celebrate"
+
+        if self.balance_state == "follow":
+            return "follow"
+
+        return "idle"
+
+    def _get_brightness(self) -> float:
+        """Calculate brightness (0.0-1.0)."""
+        max_brightness = self.brightness_max
+        min_brightness = self.brightness_min
+
+        if self.config["brightness"]["auto_dim"]:
+            # Simplified: use night brightness for now
+            brightness = self.config["brightness"]["night_brightness"]
+        else:
+            brightness = max_brightness
+
+        return brightness / 255.0
+
+    def _create_pattern(self, state: str) -> LEDPattern:
+        """Create pattern for state."""
+        pattern_config = self.config["patterns"].get(state, self.config["patterns"]["idle"])
+        color_list = pattern_config.get("color")
+        pattern_type = pattern_config.get("pattern", "breathing")
+        speed = pattern_config.get("speed", 1.0)
+
+        color = None
+        if color_list:
+            color = LEDColor(color_list[0], color_list[1], color_list[2])
+
+        if pattern_type == "breathing":
+            return BreathingPattern(color, self.num_leds, speed)
+        elif pattern_type == "pulse":
+            return PulsePattern(color, self.num_leds, speed)
+        elif pattern_type == "flash":
+            return FlashPattern(color, self.num_leds, speed)
+        elif pattern_type == "rainbow":
+            return RainbowPattern(color, self.num_leds, speed)
+        elif pattern_type == "chase":
+            return ChasePattern(color, self.num_leds, speed)
+        else:
+            return BreathingPattern(color, self.num_leds, speed)
+
+    def _update_leds(self):
+        """Update LED display."""
+        now = time.time()
+        dt = now - self.last_update
+        self.last_update = now
+
+        # Determine state
+        state = self._determine_state()
+
+        # Transition to new state
+        if state != self.last_state:
+            self.last_state = state
+            self.current_pattern = self._create_pattern(state)
+            self.transition_time = 0.0
+            self.get_logger().info(f"LED state changed to: {state}")
+
+        # Update pattern
+        brightness = self._get_brightness()
+        if self.current_pattern:
+            leds = self.current_pattern.update(dt, brightness)
+        else:
+            leds = [(0, 0, 0)] * self.num_leds
+
+        # Publish state
+        state_msg = {
+            "state": self.last_state or "idle",
+            "battery": self.battery_level,
+            "brightness": int(brightness * 255),
+            "num_leds": self.num_leds,
+            "gpio_pin": self.gpio_pin,
+        }
+        self.led_state_pub.publish(String(data=json.dumps(state_msg)))
+
+
+def main(args=None):
+    """Main entry point."""
+    rclpy.init(args=args)
+    node = LEDControllerNode()
+    rclpy.spin(node)
+    node.destroy_node()
+    rclpy.shutdown()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/setup.cfg b/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/setup.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f887986
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/setup.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+[develop]
+script_dir=$base/lib/saltybot_led_controller
+[bdist_wheel]
+universal=0
diff --git a/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/setup.py b/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/setup.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..34ee393
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jetson/ros2_ws/src/saltybot_led_controller/setup.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+from setuptools import setup
+
+package_name = "saltybot_led_controller"
+
+setup(
+    name=package_name,
+    version="0.1.0",
+    packages=[package_name],
+    data_files=[
+        ("share/ament_index/resource_index/packages", [f"resource/{package_name}"]),
+        (f"share/{package_name}", ["package.xml"]),
+        (f"share/{package_name}/launch", ["launch/led_controller.launch.py"]),
+        (f"share/{package_name}/config", ["config/led_config.yaml"]),
+    ],
+    install_requires=["setuptools", "pyyaml"],
+    zip_safe=True,
+    maintainer="sl-mechanical",
+    maintainer_email="sl-mechanical@saltylab.local",
+    description=(
+        "NeoPixel LED controller: animated patterns for battery, balance, "
+        "social, emotion, and health states with smooth transitions"
+    ),
+    license="MIT",
+    tests_require=["pytest"],
+    entry_points={
+        "console_scripts": [
+            "led_controller_node = saltybot_led_controller.led_controller_node:main",
+        ],
+    },
+)