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diff --git a/tracking_re_id/launch/top_down_launch.py b/tracking_re_id/launch/top_down_launch.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ed689c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tracking_re_id/launch/top_down_launch.py
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+"""Launch the full 3D tracking + ground-plane estimation + top-down view pipeline.
+
+Nodes started:
+  1. single_person_loc_node  -- headless stereo keypoint triangulator
+       publishes: /keypoint_markers  (MarkerArray)
+                  /keypoints_3d      (PointCloud2)
+  2. ground_plane_node       -- ground-plane estimator
+       publishes: /ground_plane_markers  (MarkerArray)
+                  /ground_plane_pose     (PoseStamped)
+  3. top_down_node           -- synthetic bird's-eye view of the ground plane
+       publishes: /top_down_image        (Image)
+
+To view the top-down image:
+  ros2 run rqt_image_view rqt_image_view   →   select /top_down_image
+"""
+
+import os
+import sys
+
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(__file__))
+from _conda_utils import find_conda_python  # noqa: E402
+
+from launch import LaunchDescription
+from launch.actions import ExecuteProcess
+
+
+def generate_launch_description():
+    python_exe = find_conda_python('mmpose')
+
+    return LaunchDescription([
+
+        # ── 1. Keypoint triangulator (headless) ──────────────────────────────
+        ExecuteProcess(
+            cmd=[
+                python_exe, '-m', 'tracking_re_id.single_person_loc_node',
+                '--ros-args',
+                '-p', 'threshold:=0.3',
+                '-p', 'device:=cuda:0',
+                '-p', 'max_residual:=0.10',
+                '-p', 'headless:=true',
+            ],
+            output='screen',
+            env={**os.environ},
+        ),
+
+        # ── 2. Ground-plane estimator ─────────────────────────────────────────
+        ExecuteProcess(
+            cmd=[
+                python_exe, '-m', 'tracking_re_id.ground_plane_node',
+                '--ros-args',
+                '-p', 'stable_frames:=5',
+                '-p', 'stable_radius:=0.05',
+                '-p', 'duplicate_radius:=0',
+                '-p', 'collinearity_threshold:=0.25',
+                '-p', 'max_ground_points:=100',
+                '-p', 'min_plane_points:=5',
+            ],
+            output='screen',
+            env={**os.environ},
+        ),
+
+        # ── 3. Top-down bird's-eye visualiser ────────────────────────────────
+        ExecuteProcess(
+            cmd=[
+                python_exe, '-m', 'tracking_re_id.top_down_node',
+                '--ros-args',
+            ],
+            output='screen',
+            env={**os.environ},
+        ),
+
+    ])
diff --git a/tracking_re_id/setup.py b/tracking_re_id/setup.py
index 2fb1ea3..3d96b5a 100644
--- a/tracking_re_id/setup.py
+++ b/tracking_re_id/setup.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ setup(
             'single_person_loc_node = tracking_re_id.single_person_loc_node:main',
             'ground_plane_node = tracking_re_id.ground_plane_node:main',
             'overlay_node = tracking_re_id.overlay_node:main',
+            'top_down_node = tracking_re_id.top_down_node:main',
             'reid_node = tracking_re_id.reid_node:main',
         ],
     },
diff --git a/tracking_re_id/tracking_re_id/top_down_node.py b/tracking_re_id/tracking_re_id/top_down_node.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eec2d6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tracking_re_id/tracking_re_id/top_down_node.py
@@ -0,0 +1,350 @@
+"""
+ROS 2 node: top_down_node
+
+Renders a synthetic bird's-eye (top-down) 2-D view of the detected ground
+plane.  Each detected person is shown as a filled circle (centred on their
+ankle midpoint) with a facing arrow.  The facing direction is derived by
+projecting the 3-D vector from the shoulder midpoint to the nose onto the
+ground plane — no cross-product or disambiguation required.
+
+Before the ground plane is established the window shows "Waiting for plane…".
+
+Subscriptions
+─────────────
+  /keypoints_3d          sensor_msgs/PointCloud2   (from single_person_loc_node)
+  /ground_plane_pose     geometry_msgs/PoseStamped (from ground_plane_node)
+
+Publications
+────────────
+  /top_down_image        sensor_msgs/Image  (BGR8, fixed-size canvas)
+"""
+
+import numpy as np
+import cv2
+import rclpy
+from rclpy.node import Node
+from sensor_msgs.msg import Image, PointCloud2
+from geometry_msgs.msg import PoseStamped
+from sensor_msgs_py import point_cloud2 as pc2
+from cv_bridge import CvBridge
+
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+#  TUNABLE PARAMETERS
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+# Canvas side length in pixels (square output image).
+CANVAS_SIZE: int = 800
+
+# Physical half-extent of the canvas from the plane origin (metres).
+# A value of 4.0 yields an 8 m × 8 m visible area.
+CANVAS_HALF_M: float = 4.0
+
+# Derived: pixels per metre.
+SCALE: float = CANVAS_SIZE / (2.0 * CANVAS_HALF_M)
+
+# Canvas background colour (B, G, R).
+BG_COLOR: tuple = (30, 30, 30)
+
+# Regular grid line colour (B, G, R).
+GRID_COLOR: tuple = (70, 70, 70)
+
+# Grid line spacing in metres.
+GRID_SPACING: float = 0.5
+
+# Axis (u=0, v=0) line colour (B, G, R).
+AXIS_COLOR: tuple = (0, 180, 0)
+
+# Radius of the per-person presence circle in metres.
+PERSON_RADIUS_M: float = 0.20
+
+# Fill alpha of the presence circle (0.0–1.0).
+CIRCLE_ALPHA: float = 0.45
+
+# Thickness of the presence circle outline in pixels.
+CIRCLE_OUTLINE_PX: int = 2
+
+# Length of the facing arrow beyond the circle edge, in metres.
+ARROW_LENGTH_M: float = 0.7
+
+# Fraction of arrow length used for the arrowhead.
+ARROW_TIP_FRACTION: float = 0.30
+
+# Publish rate of the top-down image in Hz.
+PUBLISH_HZ: float = 15.0
+
+# Per-person colours, cycled by person_id (B, G, R).
+PERSON_COLORS: list = [
+    (0, 230,   0),    # green
+    (0, 100, 255),    # orange
+    (255, 50, 200),   # magenta
+    (0, 200, 255),    # yellow
+]
+
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+#  Helpers
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+def _quat_to_rot(qx: float, qy: float, qz: float, qw: float) -> np.ndarray:
+    """Return the 3×3 rotation matrix for unit quaternion (x, y, z, w)."""
+    return np.array([
+        [1 - 2*(qy*qy + qz*qz),     2*(qx*qy - qz*qw),     2*(qx*qz + qy*qw)],
+        [    2*(qx*qy + qz*qw), 1 - 2*(qx*qx + qz*qz),     2*(qy*qz - qx*qw)],
+        [    2*(qx*qz - qy*qw),     2*(qy*qz + qx*qw), 1 - 2*(qx*qx + qy*qy)],
+    ], dtype=np.float64)
+
+
+def _to_plane_uv(pt3d: np.ndarray,
+                 origin: np.ndarray,
+                 u_axis: np.ndarray,
+                 v_axis: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray:
+    """Project a 3-D camera-frame point onto the plane, returning (u, v)."""
+    d = pt3d - origin
+    return np.array([np.dot(d, u_axis), np.dot(d, v_axis)], dtype=np.float64)
+
+
+def _to_pixel(uv: np.ndarray) -> tuple[int, int]:
+    """
+    Map plane coordinates (u, v) to integer canvas pixel (x, y).
+
+    u increases to the right; v is flipped so that "further from camera"
+    appears upward on the canvas.
+    """
+    px = int(round( uv[0] * SCALE + CANVAS_SIZE * 0.5))
+    py = int(round(-uv[1] * SCALE + CANVAS_SIZE * 0.5))
+    return px, py
+
+
+def _ankle_center(kp_dict: dict[int, np.ndarray],
+                  origin: np.ndarray,
+                  u_axis: np.ndarray,
+                  v_axis: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray:
+    """Return the mean ankle plane-UV, falling back to all-keypoint mean."""
+    ankles = [_to_plane_uv(kp_dict[k], origin, u_axis, v_axis)
+              for k in (15, 16) if k in kp_dict]
+    if ankles:
+        return np.mean(ankles, axis=0)
+    return np.mean(
+        [_to_plane_uv(v, origin, u_axis, v_axis) for v in kp_dict.values()],
+        axis=0)
+
+
+def _facing_dir(kp_dict: dict[int, np.ndarray],
+                u_axis: np.ndarray,
+                v_axis: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray | None:
+    """
+    Return the normalised facing direction as a plane (u, v) unit vector, or None.
+
+    Method
+    ------
+    The 3-D vector  (nose − shoulder_midpoint)  points directly forward from
+    the person's body.  Projecting it onto the ground plane and normalising
+    gives an unambiguous facing direction — no cross-product or sign-flip
+    disambiguation needed.
+
+    Falls back to (nose − hip_midpoint) if shoulders are not detected.
+    Returns None if neither fallback has enough data.
+    """
+    nose = kp_dict.get(0)
+    if nose is None:
+        return None
+
+    # Prefer shoulders (5, 6), fall back to hips (11, 12)
+    refs = [kp_dict[k] for k in (5, 6) if k in kp_dict]
+    if not refs:
+        refs = [kp_dict[k] for k in (11, 12) if k in kp_dict]
+    if not refs:
+        return None
+
+    ref_mid    = np.mean(refs, axis=0)         # shoulder (or hip) midpoint
+    forward_3d = nose - ref_mid                # points toward the face
+
+    facing_uv = np.array([np.dot(forward_3d, u_axis),
+                           np.dot(forward_3d, v_axis)], dtype=np.float64)
+    n = np.linalg.norm(facing_uv)
+    if n < 1e-6:
+        return None
+    return facing_uv / n
+
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+#  Node
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+class TopDownNode(Node):
+    """
+    Publishes a top-down 2-D view of the ground plane with:
+      • a metric grid
+      • one circle per detected person (centred on ankle midpoint)
+      • a facing arrow per person (nose − shoulder direction, projected)
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        super().__init__('top_down_node')
+
+        self._bridge = CvBridge()
+
+        # {person_id: {kp_id: np.ndarray([x, y, z])}}
+        self._kps: dict[int, dict[int, np.ndarray]] = {}
+
+        # (origin, R)  — R cols: [u_axis | v_axis | normal]
+        self._plane: tuple[np.ndarray, np.ndarray] | None = None
+
+        self.create_subscription(
+            PointCloud2, '/keypoints_3d', self._kp_cb, 10)
+        self.create_subscription(
+            PoseStamped, '/ground_plane_pose', self._plane_cb, 10)
+
+        self._pub = self.create_publisher(Image, '/top_down_image', 10)
+        self.create_timer(1.0 / PUBLISH_HZ, self._render)
+
+        self.get_logger().info('TopDown node started — publishing /top_down_image')
+
+    # ── Upstream data caches ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    def _kp_cb(self, msg: PointCloud2):
+        kps: dict[int, dict[int, np.ndarray]] = {}
+        for pt in pc2.read_points(
+                msg,
+                field_names=('x', 'y', 'z', 'person_id', 'kp_id'),
+                skip_nans=True):
+            pid = int(pt[3])
+            kid = int(pt[4])
+            kps.setdefault(pid, {})[kid] = np.array(
+                [pt[0], pt[1], pt[2]], dtype=np.float64)
+        self._kps = kps
+
+    def _plane_cb(self, msg: PoseStamped):
+        o = msg.pose.position
+        q = msg.pose.orientation
+        origin = np.array([o.x, o.y, o.z], dtype=np.float64)
+        R      = _quat_to_rot(q.x, q.y, q.z, q.w)
+        self._plane = (origin, R)
+
+    # ── Main render ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    def _render(self):
+        canvas = np.full((CANVAS_SIZE, CANVAS_SIZE, 3), BG_COLOR, dtype=np.uint8)
+
+        if self._plane is None:
+            _draw_waiting(canvas)
+            self._pub.publish(
+                self._bridge.cv2_to_imgmsg(canvas, encoding='bgr8'))
+            return
+
+        origin, R = self._plane
+        u_axis = R[:, 0]
+        v_axis = R[:, 1]
+
+        self._draw_grid(canvas)
+
+        for person_id, kp_dict in self._kps.items():
+            color = PERSON_COLORS[person_id % len(PERSON_COLORS)]
+
+            center_uv = _ankle_center(kp_dict, origin, u_axis, v_axis)
+            cx, cy    = _to_pixel(center_uv)
+            r_px      = max(1, int(round(PERSON_RADIUS_M * SCALE)))
+
+            # Filled circle (alpha-blended)
+            overlay = canvas.copy()
+            cv2.circle(overlay, (cx, cy), r_px, color, -1, cv2.LINE_AA)
+            cv2.addWeighted(overlay, CIRCLE_ALPHA,
+                            canvas,  1.0 - CIRCLE_ALPHA, 0, canvas)
+
+            # Circle outline (fully opaque)
+            cv2.circle(canvas, (cx, cy), r_px, color, CIRCLE_OUTLINE_PX, cv2.LINE_AA)
+
+            # Person label
+            cv2.putText(canvas, f'P{person_id}',
+                        (cx + r_px + 4, cy + 5),
+                        cv2.FONT_HERSHEY_SIMPLEX, 0.55, color, 2, cv2.LINE_AA)
+
+            # Facing arrow: base at circle edge, tip beyond it
+            fdir = _facing_dir(kp_dict, u_axis, v_axis)
+            if fdir is not None:
+                base_uv = center_uv + fdir * PERSON_RADIUS_M
+                tip_uv  = center_uv + fdir * (PERSON_RADIUS_M + ARROW_LENGTH_M)
+                base_px = _to_pixel(base_uv)
+                tip_px  = _to_pixel(tip_uv)
+                cv2.arrowedLine(canvas, base_px, tip_px,
+                                (255, 255, 255), 2, cv2.LINE_AA,
+                                tipLength=ARROW_TIP_FRACTION)
+
+        self._pub.publish(
+            self._bridge.cv2_to_imgmsg(canvas, encoding='bgr8'))
+
+    # ── Grid ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    def _draw_grid(self, canvas: np.ndarray):
+        lim   = CANVAS_HALF_M
+        steps = np.arange(-lim, lim + GRID_SPACING * 0.5, GRID_SPACING)
+
+        for s in steps:
+            is_axis = abs(s) < 1e-6
+            color   = AXIS_COLOR if is_axis else GRID_COLOR
+            thick   = 2         if is_axis else 1
+
+            x0, y0 = _to_pixel(np.array([s, -lim]))
+            x1, y1 = _to_pixel(np.array([s,  lim]))
+            cv2.line(canvas, (x0, y0), (x1, y1), color, thick, cv2.LINE_AA)
+
+            x0, y0 = _to_pixel(np.array([-lim, s]))
+            x1, y1 = _to_pixel(np.array([ lim, s]))
+            cv2.line(canvas, (x0, y0), (x1, y1), color, thick, cv2.LINE_AA)
+
+        # Origin marker
+        ox, oy = _to_pixel(np.zeros(2))
+        cv2.circle(canvas, (ox, oy), 5, AXIS_COLOR, -1, cv2.LINE_AA)
+        cv2.putText(canvas, 'origin', (ox + 8, oy - 8),
+                    cv2.FONT_HERSHEY_SIMPLEX, 0.38, AXIS_COLOR, 1, cv2.LINE_AA)
+
+        # Axis tip labels
+        cv2.putText(canvas, 'u+',
+                    _to_pixel(np.array([lim - 0.4, 0.0])),
+                    cv2.FONT_HERSHEY_SIMPLEX, 0.45, AXIS_COLOR, 1, cv2.LINE_AA)
+        cv2.putText(canvas, 'v+',
+                    _to_pixel(np.array([0.0, lim - 0.4])),
+                    cv2.FONT_HERSHEY_SIMPLEX, 0.45, AXIS_COLOR, 1, cv2.LINE_AA)
+
+        # 1 m scale bar
+        bx0, by0 = _to_pixel(np.array([-lim + 0.2, -lim + 0.2]))
+        bx1, by1 = _to_pixel(np.array([-lim + 1.2, -lim + 0.2]))
+        cv2.line(canvas, (bx0, by0), (bx1, by1), (180, 180, 180), 2, cv2.LINE_AA)
+        cv2.putText(canvas, '1 m', (bx0, by0 - 6),
+                    cv2.FONT_HERSHEY_SIMPLEX, 0.38, (180, 180, 180), 1, cv2.LINE_AA)
+
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+#  Module-level helpers
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+def _draw_waiting(canvas: np.ndarray):
+    text  = 'Waiting for plane...'
+    font  = cv2.FONT_HERSHEY_SIMPLEX
+    scale = 1.0
+    thick = 2
+    (tw, th), _ = cv2.getTextSize(text, font, scale, thick)
+    cv2.putText(canvas, text,
+                ((CANVAS_SIZE - tw) // 2, (CANVAS_SIZE + th) // 2),
+                font, scale, (200, 200, 200), thick, cv2.LINE_AA)
+
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+#  Entry point
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+def main(args=None):
+    rclpy.init(args=args)
+    node = TopDownNode()
+    try:
+        rclpy.spin(node)
+    except KeyboardInterrupt:
+        pass
+    finally:
+        node.destroy_node()
+        rclpy.try_shutdown()
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()