diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index d827fbe9..4ca48d4a 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -10,13 +10,8 @@ WORKDIR /webodm
 
 # Install pip reqs
 ADD requirements.txt /webodm/
-RUN pip install --upgrade git+https://github.com/pierotofy/django-knockout
 RUN pip install -r requirements.txt
 
-# swagger_spec_validator is not up to date, fetch directly from github
-# also install django-knockout
-RUN pip install --upgrade git+https://github.com/Yelp/swagger_spec_validator
-
 ADD . /webodm/
 
 RUN git submodule init 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f62a9066..6718f39a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ Then:
 
 ```
 pip install -r requirements.txt
-pip install --upgrade git+git://github.com/Yelp/swagger_spec_validator
 npm install -g webpack
 npm install
 webpack
diff --git a/app/api/processingnodes.py b/app/api/processingnodes.py
index 2a956ecb..6e53e9f5 100644
--- a/app/api/processingnodes.py
+++ b/app/api/processingnodes.py
@@ -3,12 +3,35 @@ from rest_framework.response import Response
 from rest_framework.decorators import permission_classes
 from rest_framework.permissions import DjangoModelPermissions
 from rest_framework.filters import DjangoFilterBackend
+from django_filters.rest_framework import FilterSet
 from nodeodm.models import ProcessingNode
+import django_filters
+from django.utils import timezone
+from datetime import timedelta
+from django.db.models import Q
+
 
 class ProcessingNodeSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
     class Meta:
         model = ProcessingNode
+        fields = '__all__'
 
+class ProcessingNodeFilter(FilterSet):
+    online = django_filters.MethodFilter()
+
+    def filter_online(self, queryset, value):
+        online_threshold = timezone.now() - timedelta(minutes=5)
+
+        if value.lower() in ['true', '1']:
+            return queryset.filter(last_refreshed__isnull=False, last_refreshed__gte=online_threshold)
+        elif value.lower() in ['false', '0']:
+            return queryset.filter(Q(last_refreshed__isnull=True) | Q(last_refreshed__lt=online_threshold))
+        
+        return queryset
+
+    class Meta:
+        model = ProcessingNode
+        fields = ['online', 'id', 'hostname', 'port', 'api_version', 'queue_count', ]
 
 class ProcessingNodeViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
     """
@@ -18,7 +41,10 @@ class ProcessingNodeViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
 
     # Don't need a "view node" permission. If you are logged-in, you can view nodes.
     permission_classes = (DjangoModelPermissions, )
+
     filter_backends = (DjangoFilterBackend, )
+    filter_class = ProcessingNodeFilter
+
     pagination_class = None
     serializer_class = ProcessingNodeSerializer
-    queryset = ProcessingNode.objects.all()
+    queryset = ProcessingNode.objects.all()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/api/projects.py b/app/api/projects.py
index d2e54077..20ceb38c 100644
--- a/app/api/projects.py
+++ b/app/api/projects.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ class ProjectSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
 
     class Meta:
         model = models.Project
+        fields = '__all__'
 
 
 class ProjectViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
diff --git a/app/api/tasks.py b/app/api/tasks.py
index 1a936af1..dedaeaea 100644
--- a/app/api/tasks.py
+++ b/app/api/tasks.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist
 from rest_framework import status, serializers, viewsets, filters, exceptions, permissions, parsers
 from rest_framework.response import Response
 from rest_framework.decorators import parser_classes, api_view
-from app import models
+from app import models, scheduler
 from nodeodm.models import ProcessingNode
 
 class TaskIDsSerializer(serializers.BaseSerializer):
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class TaskSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
     
     class Meta:
         model = models.Task
-
+        fields = '__all__'
 
 class TaskViewSet(viewsets.ViewSet):
     """
@@ -83,6 +83,10 @@ class TaskViewSet(viewsets.ViewSet):
         serializer = TaskSerializer(task, data=request.data, partial=partial)
         serializer.is_valid(raise_exception=True)
         serializer.save()
+
+        # Call the scheduler (speed things up)
+        scheduler.process_pending_tasks(background=True)
+
         return Response(serializer.data)
 
     def partial_update(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
diff --git a/app/apps.py b/app/apps.py
index 1d26e888..25a43c7e 100644
--- a/app/apps.py
+++ b/app/apps.py
@@ -1,11 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from django.apps import AppConfig
-from .boot import boot
 
 class MainConfig(AppConfig):
     name = 'app'
     verbose_name = 'Application'
-
-    def ready(self):
-        boot()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/boot.py b/app/boot.py
index 721a6f8a..5c765265 100644
--- a/app/boot.py
+++ b/app/boot.py
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
-def boot():
-    from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
-    from django.contrib.auth.models import Permission
-    from django.contrib.auth.models import User, Group
-    from django.db.utils import ProgrammingError
-    from . import signals
-    import logging
+from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
+from django.contrib.auth.models import Permission
+from django.contrib.auth.models import User, Group
+from django.db.utils import ProgrammingError
+from . import signals, scheduler
+import logging, os
+from .models import Task
+from webodm import settings
 
+def boot():
     logger = logging.getLogger('app.logger')
 
     # Check default group
@@ -24,5 +26,15 @@ def boot():
         if User.objects.filter(is_superuser=True).count() == 0:
             User.objects.create_superuser('admin', 'admin@example.com', 'admin')
             logger.info("Created superuser")
+
+        # Unlock any Task that might have been locked
+        Task.objects.filter(processing_lock=True).update(processing_lock=False)
+        
+        if not settings.TESTING:
+            # Setup and start scheduler
+            scheduler.setup()
+
+            scheduler.update_nodes_info(background=True)
+
     except ProgrammingError:
-        logger.warn("Could not create default group/user. If running a migration, this is expected.")
+        logger.warn("Could not touch the database. If running a migration, this is expected.")
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/models.py b/app/models.py
index 3fe8c097..0cdc8a46 100644
--- a/app/models.py
+++ b/app/models.py
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@ from django.utils import timezone
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
 from django.contrib.postgres import fields
 from nodeodm.models import ProcessingNode
-from django.dispatch import receiver
 from guardian.shortcuts import get_perms_for_model, assign_perm
 from guardian.models import UserObjectPermissionBase
 from guardian.models import GroupObjectPermissionBase
+from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
+from django.dispatch import receiver
+from nodeodm.exceptions import ProcessingException
 from django.db import transaction
 
 def assets_directory_path(taskId, projectId, filename):
@@ -55,6 +57,19 @@ class ProjectGroupObjectPermission(GroupObjectPermissionBase):
 def gcp_directory_path(task, filename):
     return assets_directory_path(task.id, task.project.id, filename)
 
+def validate_task_options(value):
+    """
+    Make sure that the format of this options field is valid
+    """
+    if len(value) == 0: return
+
+    try:
+        for option in value:
+            if not option['name']: raise ValidationError("Name key not found in option")
+            if not option['value']: raise ValidationError("Value key not found in option")
+    except:
+        raise ValidationError("Invalid options")
+
 class Task(models.Model):
     STATUS_CODES = (
         (10, 'QUEUED'),
@@ -64,15 +79,18 @@ class Task(models.Model):
         (50, 'CANCELED')
     )
 
-    uuid = models.CharField(max_length=255, null=True, blank=True, help_text="Identifier of the task (as returned by OpenDroneMap's REST API)")
+    uuid = models.CharField(max_length=255, db_index=True, null=True, blank=True, help_text="Identifier of the task (as returned by OpenDroneMap's REST API)")
     project = models.ForeignKey(Project, on_delete=models.CASCADE, help_text="Project that this task belongs to")
     name = models.CharField(max_length=255, null=True, blank=True, help_text="A label for the task")
+    processing_lock = models.BooleanField(default=False, help_text="A flag indicating whether this task is currently locked for processing. When this flag is turned on, the task is in the middle of a processing step.")
     processing_time = models.IntegerField(default=-1, help_text="Number of milliseconds that elapsed since the beginning of this task (-1 indicates that no information is available)")
     processing_node = models.ForeignKey(ProcessingNode, null=True, blank=True, help_text="Processing node assigned to this task (or null if this task has not been associated yet)")
-    status = models.IntegerField(choices=STATUS_CODES, null=True, blank=True, help_text="Current status of the task")
-    options = fields.JSONField(default=dict(), blank=True, help_text="Options that are being used to process this task")
+    status = models.IntegerField(choices=STATUS_CODES, db_index=True, null=True, blank=True, help_text="Current status of the task")
+    last_error = models.TextField(null=True, blank=True, help_text="The last processing error received")
+    options = fields.JSONField(default=dict(), blank=True, help_text="Options that are being used to process this task", validators=[validate_task_options])
     console_output = models.TextField(null=True, blank=True, help_text="Console output of the OpenDroneMap's process")
     ground_control_points = models.FileField(null=True, blank=True, upload_to=gcp_directory_path, help_text="Optional Ground Control Points file to use for processing")
+
     # georeferenced_model
     # orthophoto
     # textured_model
@@ -82,6 +100,11 @@ class Task(models.Model):
     def __str__(self):
         return 'Task ID: {}'.format(self.id)
 
+    def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        # Autovalidate on save
+        self.full_clean()
+        super(Task, self).save(*args, **kwargs)
+
     @staticmethod
     def create_from_images(images, project):
         '''
@@ -100,6 +123,58 @@ class Task(models.Model):
         # In case of error
         return None
 
+    def process(self):
+        # Nothing to do if we don't have a processing node...
+        if not self.processing_node: return
+        
+        # Need to process some images (UUID not yet set)?
+        if not self.uuid:
+            print("Processing... {}".format(self))
+
+            images = [image.path() for image in self.imageupload_set.all()]
+
+            try:
+                self.uuid = self.processing_node.process_new_task(images, self.name, self.options)
+                self.save()
+
+                # TODO: log process has started processing
+
+            except ProcessingException, e:
+                print("TASK ERROR: " + e.message)
+
+        # Need to update status (first time, queued or running?)
+        if self.uuid and self.status in [None, 10, 20]:
+            print("Have UUID: {}".format(self.uuid))
+            
+            # Update task info from processing node
+            try:
+                info = self.processing_node.get_task_info(self.uuid)
+                
+                self.processing_time = info["processingTime"]
+                self.status = info["status"]["code"]
+
+                if "errorMessage" in info["status"]:
+                    self.last_error = info["status"]["errorMessage"]
+
+                # Has the task just been canceled, failed, or completed?
+                # Note that we don't save the status code right away,
+                # if the assets retrieval fails we want to retry again.
+                if self.status in [30, 40, 50]:
+                    print("ALMOST DONE: " + str(self.status))
+
+                    # Completed?
+                    if self.status == 40:
+                        # TODO: retrieve assets
+                        pass
+                    else:
+                        self.save()
+                else:
+                    # Still waiting...
+                    self.save()
+            except ProcessingException, e:
+                print("TASK ERROR 2: " + e.message)
+
+
     class Meta:
         permissions = (
             ('view_task', 'Can view task'),
@@ -115,3 +190,6 @@ class ImageUpload(models.Model):
     
     def __str__(self):
         return self.image.name
+
+    def path(self):
+        return self.image.path
diff --git a/app/scheduler.py b/app/scheduler.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..06acb337
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/scheduler.py
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+import logging
+from apscheduler.schedulers.background import BackgroundScheduler
+from apscheduler.schedulers import SchedulerAlreadyRunningError, SchedulerNotRunningError
+from threading import Thread, Lock
+from multiprocessing.dummy import Pool as ThreadPool 
+from nodeodm.models import ProcessingNode
+from app.models import Task
+from django.db.models import Q
+import random
+
+logger = logging.getLogger('app.logger')
+scheduler = BackgroundScheduler()
+
+def job(func):
+    """
+    Adds background={True|False} param to any function
+    so that we can call update_nodes_info(background=True) from the outside
+    """
+    def wrapper(*args,**kwargs):
+        background = kwargs.get('background', False)
+        if background:
+            t = Thread(target=func)
+            t.start()
+            return t
+        else:
+            return func(*args, **kwargs)
+    return wrapper
+
+
+@job
+def update_nodes_info():
+    processing_nodes = ProcessingNode.objects.all()
+    for processing_node in processing_nodes:
+        processing_node.update_node_info()
+
+
+tasks_mutex = Lock()
+
+@job
+def process_pending_tasks():
+    tasks = []
+    try:
+        tasks_mutex.acquire()
+
+        # All tasks that have a processing node assigned
+        # but don't have a UUID
+        # and that are not locked (being processed by another thread)
+        tasks = Task.objects.filter(Q(uuid=None) | Q(status=10) | Q(status=20)).exclude(Q(processing_node=None) | Q(processing_lock=True))
+        for task in tasks:
+            logger.info("Acquiring lock: {}".format(task))
+            task.processing_lock = True
+            task.save()
+    finally:
+        tasks_mutex.release()
+
+    def process(task):
+        task.process()
+        task.processing_lock = False
+        task.save()
+
+    if tasks.count() > 0:
+        pool = ThreadPool(tasks.count())
+        pool.map(process, tasks, chunksize=1)
+        pool.close()
+        pool.join()
+
+def setup():
+    logger.info("Starting background scheduler...")
+    try:
+        scheduler.start()
+        scheduler.add_job(update_nodes_info, 'interval', seconds=30)
+        scheduler.add_job(process_pending_tasks, 'interval', seconds=5)
+    except SchedulerAlreadyRunningError:
+        logger.warn("Scheduler already running (this is OK while testing)")
+
+def teardown():
+    logger.info("Stopping scheduler...")
+    try:
+        scheduler.shutdown()
+    except SchedulerNotRunningError:
+        logger.warn("Scheduler not running")
diff --git a/app/static/app/js/components/EditTaskPanel.jsx b/app/static/app/js/components/EditTaskPanel.jsx
index 0c8dadf0..9b9e2893 100644
--- a/app/static/app/js/components/EditTaskPanel.jsx
+++ b/app/static/app/js/components/EditTaskPanel.jsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ class EditTaskPanel extends React.Component {
 
     this.state = {
       name: "",
+      error: "",
       advancedOptions: false,
       loadedProcessingNodes: false,
       selectedNode: null,
@@ -36,8 +37,14 @@ class EditTaskPanel extends React.Component {
         setTimeout(loadProcessingNodes, 1000);
       }
 
-      this.nodesRequest = $.getJSON("/api/processingnodes/", json => {
+      this.nodesRequest = 
+        $.getJSON("/api/processingnodes/?online=True", json => {
           if (Array.isArray(json)){
+            // All nodes offline?
+            if (json.length === 0){
+              this.setState({error: "There are no processing nodes online. Make sure at least one of them is reachable."});
+              return;
+            }
 
             let nodes = json.map(node => {
               return {
@@ -138,6 +145,12 @@ class EditTaskPanel extends React.Component {
   }
 
   render() {
+    if (this.state.error){
+      return (<div className="alert alert-warning alert-dismissible">
+            {this.state.error}
+        </div>);
+    }
+
     if (this.state.editing){
       let processingNodesOptions = "";
       if (this.state.loadedProcessingNodes){
diff --git a/app/static/app/js/components/ProjectList.jsx b/app/static/app/js/components/ProjectList.jsx
index c6bec728..85fe6aba 100644
--- a/app/static/app/js/components/ProjectList.jsx
+++ b/app/static/app/js/components/ProjectList.jsx
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ class ProjectList extends React.Component {
 
     componentDidMount(){
         // Load projects from API
-        this.serverRequest = $.getJSON(this.props.source, json => {
+        this.serverRequest = 
+            $.getJSON(this.props.source, json => {
                 if (json.results){
                     this.setState({
                         projects: json.results,
diff --git a/app/static/app/js/components/ProjectListItem.jsx b/app/static/app/js/components/ProjectListItem.jsx
index 07040959..c602fe5e 100644
--- a/app/static/app/js/components/ProjectListItem.jsx
+++ b/app/static/app/js/components/ProjectListItem.jsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import '../css/ProjectListItem.scss';
 import React from 'react';
 import update from 'react-addons-update';
-import ProjectListItemPanel from './ProjectListItemPanel';
+import TaskList from './TaskList';
 import EditTaskPanel from './EditTaskPanel';
 import UploadProgressBar from './UploadProgressBar';
 import Dropzone from '../vendor/dropzone';
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@ class ProjectListItem extends React.Component {
     super(props);
 
     this.state = {
-      showPanel: false,
+      showTaskList: false,
       updatingTask: false,
       upload: this.getDefaultUploadState()
     };
 
-    this.togglePanel = this.togglePanel.bind(this);
+    this.toggleTaskList = this.toggleTaskList.bind(this);
     this.handleUpload = this.handleUpload.bind(this);
     this.closeUploadError = this.closeUploadError.bind(this);
     this.cancelUpload = this.cancelUpload.bind(this);
@@ -133,7 +133,8 @@ class ProjectListItem extends React.Component {
     this.setUploadState({showEditTask: false});
     this.setState({updatingTask: true});
 
-    this.updateTaskRequest = $.ajax({
+    this.updateTaskRequest = 
+      $.ajax({
         url: `/api/projects/${this.props.data.id}/tasks/${this.state.upload.taskId}/`,
         contentType: 'application/json',
         data: JSON.stringify({
@@ -144,10 +145,10 @@ class ProjectListItem extends React.Component {
         dataType: 'json',
         type: 'PATCH'
       }).done(() => {
-        if (this.state.showPanel){
-          this.projectListItemPanel.refresh();
+        if (this.state.showTaskList){
+          this.taskList.refresh();
         }else{
-          this.setState({showPanel: true});
+          this.setState({showTaskList: true});
         }
       }).fail(() => {
         this.setUploadState({error: "Could not update task information. Plese try again."});
@@ -162,9 +163,9 @@ class ProjectListItem extends React.Component {
     }
   }
 
-  togglePanel(){
+  toggleTaskList(){
     this.setState({
-      showPanel: !this.state.showPanel
+      showTaskList: !this.state.showTaskList
     });
   }
 
@@ -222,10 +223,18 @@ class ProjectListItem extends React.Component {
             </ul>
           </div>
 
-          <i style={{width: 14}} className={'fa ' + (this.state.showPanel ? 'fa-caret-down' : 'fa-caret-right')}>
-          </i> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onClick={this.togglePanel}>
+          <span className="project-name">
             {this.props.data.name}
-          </a>
+          </span>
+          <div className="project-description">
+            {this.props.data.description}
+          </div>
+          <div className="row project-links">
+            <i className='fa fa-tasks'>
+            </i> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onClick={this.toggleTaskList}>
+              {(this.state.showTaskList ? 'Hide' : 'Show')} Tasks
+            </a>
+          </div>
         </div>
         <div className="row">
           <div className="dropzone" ref={this.setRef("dropzone")}>
@@ -233,7 +242,7 @@ class ProjectListItem extends React.Component {
               </div>
           </div>
 
-          {this.state.showPanel ? <ProjectListItemPanel ref={this.setRef("projectListItemPanel")}/> : ""}
+          {this.state.showTaskList ? <TaskList ref={this.setRef("taskList")}/> : ""}
 
           {this.state.upload.showEditTask ? <UploadProgressBar {...this.state.upload}/> : ""}
           
diff --git a/app/static/app/js/components/ProjectListItemPanel.jsx b/app/static/app/js/components/ProjectListItemPanel.jsx
deleted file mode 100644
index 42d611f1..00000000
--- a/app/static/app/js/components/ProjectListItemPanel.jsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-import React from 'react';
-
-class ProjectListItemPanel extends React.Component {
-  constructor(){
-    super();
-  }
-
-  componentDidMount(){
-    console.log("DISPLAY");
-  }
-
-  refresh(){
-    console.log("REFRESH");
-  }
-
-  render() {
-    return (
-      <div className="project-list-item-panel">
-        TODO
-      </div>
-    );
-  }
-}
-
-export default ProjectListItemPanel;
diff --git a/app/static/app/js/components/TaskList.jsx b/app/static/app/js/components/TaskList.jsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6cae4e70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/static/app/js/components/TaskList.jsx
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import '../css/TaskList.scss';
+
+class TaskList extends React.Component {
+  constructor(){
+    super();
+  }
+
+  componentDidMount(){
+    console.log("DISPLAY");
+  }
+
+  refresh(){
+    console.log("REFRESH");
+  }
+
+  render() {
+    return (
+      <div className="task-list">
+        <span>Updating task list... <i className="fa fa-refresh fa-spin fa-fw"></i></span>
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+export default TaskList;
diff --git a/app/static/app/js/css/Dashboard.scss b/app/static/app/js/css/Dashboard.scss
index b4797e4a..8aa2d3a0 100644
--- a/app/static/app/js/css/Dashboard.scss
+++ b/app/static/app/js/css/Dashboard.scss
@@ -1,8 +1,4 @@
 #dashboard-app{
-    .project-list-item-panel{
-        min-height: 100px;
-    }
-
     .row{
         &.no-margin{
             margin: 0;
diff --git a/app/static/app/js/css/ProjectListItem.scss b/app/static/app/js/css/ProjectListItem.scss
index d9eb7b35..848abf56 100644
--- a/app/static/app/js/css/ProjectListItem.scss
+++ b/app/static/app/js/css/ProjectListItem.scss
@@ -1,5 +1,16 @@
 .project-list-item{
     min-height: 60px;
+
+    .project-name{
+        font-weight: bold;
+    }
+
+    .project-links{
+        font-size: 90%;
+        i{
+            margin-right: 4px;
+        }
+    }
     
     .dz-preview{
         display: none;
diff --git a/app/static/app/js/css/TaskList.scss b/app/static/app/js/css/TaskList.scss
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e8bc078a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/static/app/js/css/TaskList.scss
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+.task-list{
+    background-color: #ecf0f1;
+    padding: 10px;
+    min-height: 100px;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/tests/classes.py b/app/tests/classes.py
index 3f89e63e..981c3275 100644
--- a/app/tests/classes.py
+++ b/app/tests/classes.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ class BootTestCase(TestCase):
     module should derive from this class instead of TestCase.
 
     We don't use fixtures because we have signal initialization login
-    for some models, which doesn't play well with them, and this: http://blog.namis.me/2012/04/21/burn-your-fixtures/
+    for some models, which doesn't play well with them.
     '''
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
@@ -46,3 +46,7 @@ class BootTestCase(TestCase):
         boot()
         setupUsers()
         setupProjects()
+
+    @classmethod
+    def tearDownClass(cls):
+        super(BootTestCase, cls).tearDownClass()
diff --git a/app/tests/test_api.py b/app/tests/test_api.py
index 27d4b1d3..b65e1d9e 100644
--- a/app/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/app/tests/test_api.py
@@ -137,11 +137,26 @@ class TestApi(BootTestCase):
         self.assertTrue(len(res.data) == 1)
         self.assertTrue(res.data[0]["hostname"] == "localhost")
 
+        # Can use filters
+        res = client.get('/api/processingnodes/?id={}'.format(pnode.id))
+        self.assertEqual(res.status_code, status.HTTP_200_OK)
+        self.assertTrue(len(res.data) == 1)
+
+        # Can filter online
+        res = client.get('/api/processingnodes/?online=true')
+        self.assertEqual(res.status_code, status.HTTP_200_OK)
+        self.assertTrue(len(res.data) == 0)
+
+        res = client.get('/api/processingnodes/?online=false')
+        self.assertEqual(res.status_code, status.HTTP_200_OK)
+        self.assertTrue(len(res.data) == 1)
+
         # Can get single processing node as normal user
         res = client.get('/api/processingnodes/{}/'.format(pnode.id))
         self.assertEqual(res.status_code, status.HTTP_200_OK)
         self.assertTrue(res.data["hostname"] == "localhost")
 
+
         # Cannot delete a processing node as normal user
         res = client.delete('/api/processingnodes/{}/'.format(pnode.id))
         self.assertTrue(res.status_code, status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN)
diff --git a/app/tests/test_app.py b/app/tests/test_app.py
index cc4fc3ae..55af1773 100644
--- a/app/tests/test_app.py
+++ b/app/tests/test_app.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ from django.test import Client
 
 from app.models import Project, Task
 from .classes import BootTestCase
+from app import scheduler
+from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
 
 class TestApp(BootTestCase):
     fixtures = ['test_processingnodes', ]
@@ -119,3 +121,30 @@ class TestApp(BootTestCase):
 
         # Should not have permission
         self.assertFalse(anotherUser.has_perm("delete_project", p))
+
+    def test_tasks(self):
+        # Create a new task
+        p = Project.objects.create(owner=User.objects.get(username="testuser"), name="test")
+        task = Task.objects.create(project=p)
+
+        # Test options validation
+        task.options = [{'name': 'test', 'value': 1}]
+        self.assertTrue(task.save() == None)
+
+        task.options = {'test': 1}
+        self.assertRaises(ValidationError, task.save)
+
+        task.options = [{'name': 'test', 'value': 1}, {"invalid": 1}]
+        self.assertRaises(ValidationError, task.save)
+
+
+    def test_scheduler(self):
+        self.assertTrue(scheduler.setup() == None)
+
+        # Can call update_nodes_info()
+        self.assertTrue(scheduler.update_nodes_info() == None)
+
+        # Can call function in background
+        self.assertTrue(scheduler.update_nodes_info(background=True).join() == None)
+
+        self.assertTrue(scheduler.teardown() == None)
diff --git a/app/urls.py b/app/urls.py
index 52daa503..822d0953 100644
--- a/app/urls.py
+++ b/app/urls.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 from django.conf.urls import url, include
 from . import views
+from app.boot import boot
+from webodm import settings
 
 urlpatterns = [
     url(r'^$', views.index, name='index'),
@@ -7,4 +9,8 @@ urlpatterns = [
     url(r'^processingnode/([\d]+)/$', views.processing_node, name='processing_node'),
 
     url(r'^api/', include("app.api.urls")),
-]
\ No newline at end of file
+]
+
+# Test cases call boot() independently
+if not settings.TESTING:
+    boot()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/nodeodm/api_client.py b/nodeodm/api_client.py
index 983443f5..13d0f926 100644
--- a/nodeodm/api_client.py
+++ b/nodeodm/api_client.py
@@ -1,35 +1,45 @@
 """
-A wrapper around Bravado to communicate with a node-OpenDroneMap node.
+An interface to node-OpenDroneMap's API
+https://github.com/pierotofy/node-OpenDroneMap/blob/master/docs/index.adoc
 """
-from bravado.client import SwaggerClient
-from bravado.exception import HTTPError
-from requests import ConnectionError
+import requests
+import mimetypes
+import json
+import os
+from urlparse import urlunparse
 
 class ApiClient:
-    def check_client(func):
-        def check(self, *args, **kwargs):
-            """
-            Makes sure that the client has been instantiated. 
-            Sometimes this will fail (rest endpoint might be offline), 
-            so we need to handle it gracefully...
-            """
-            if not hasattr(self, 'client'):
-                try:
-                    self.client = SwaggerClient.from_url('http://{}:{}/swagger.json'.format(self.host, self.port))
-                except (ConnectionError, HTTPError) as err:
-                    return None
-                    
-            return func(self, *args, **kwargs)
-        return check
-
     def __init__(self, host, port):
         self.host = host
         self.port = port
 
-    @check_client
-    def info(self):
-        return self.client.server.get_info().result()
+    def url(self, url):
+        netloc = self.host if self.port == 80 else "{}:{}".format(self.host, self.port)
+
+        # TODO: https support
+        return urlunparse(('http', netloc, url, '', '', ''))
+
+    def info(self):
+        return requests.get(self.url('/info')).json()
 
-    @check_client
     def options(self):
-        return self.client.server.get_options().result()
\ No newline at end of file
+        return requests.get(self.url('/options')).json()
+
+    def task_info(self, uuid):
+        return requests.get(self.url('/task/{}/info').format(uuid)).json()
+
+    def new_task(self, images, name=None, options=[]):
+        """
+        Starts processing of a new task
+        :param images: list of path images
+        :param name: name of the task
+        :param options: options to be used for processing ([{'name': optionName, 'value': optionValue}, ...])
+        :return: UUID or error
+        """
+
+        files = [('images',
+                  (os.path.basename(image), open(image, 'rb'), (mimetypes.guess_type(image)[0] or "image/jpg"))
+                 ) for image in images]
+        return requests.post(self.url("/task/new"),
+                             files=files,
+                             data={'name': name, 'options': json.dumps(options)}).json()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/nodeodm/exceptions.py b/nodeodm/exceptions.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..77c36115
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nodeodm/exceptions.py
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+class ProcessingException(Exception):
+    pass
diff --git a/nodeodm/fixtures/test_images/DJI_0176.JPG b/nodeodm/fixtures/test_images/DJI_0176.JPG
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ea3b9932
Binary files /dev/null and b/nodeodm/fixtures/test_images/DJI_0176.JPG differ
diff --git a/nodeodm/fixtures/test_images/DJI_0177.JPG b/nodeodm/fixtures/test_images/DJI_0177.JPG
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..474585a1
Binary files /dev/null and b/nodeodm/fixtures/test_images/DJI_0177.JPG differ
diff --git a/nodeodm/fixtures/test_images/DJI_0178.JPG b/nodeodm/fixtures/test_images/DJI_0178.JPG
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9ec037a5
Binary files /dev/null and b/nodeodm/fixtures/test_images/DJI_0178.JPG differ
diff --git a/nodeodm/fixtures/test_images/DJI_0179.JPG b/nodeodm/fixtures/test_images/DJI_0179.JPG
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3aaa0f6d
Binary files /dev/null and b/nodeodm/fixtures/test_images/DJI_0179.JPG differ
diff --git a/nodeodm/fixtures/test_images/DJI_0180.JPG b/nodeodm/fixtures/test_images/DJI_0180.JPG
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0e0e0446
Binary files /dev/null and b/nodeodm/fixtures/test_images/DJI_0180.JPG differ
diff --git a/nodeodm/models.py b/nodeodm/models.py
index 50c7ae38..d5e263a3 100644
--- a/nodeodm/models.py
+++ b/nodeodm/models.py
@@ -3,8 +3,12 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 from django.db import models
 from django.contrib.postgres import fields
 from django.utils import timezone
+from django.dispatch import receiver
 from .api_client import ApiClient
 import json
+from django.db.models import signals
+from requests.exceptions import ConnectionError
+from .exceptions import ProcessingException
 
 class ProcessingNode(models.Model):
     hostname = models.CharField(max_length=255, help_text="Hostname where the node is located (can be an internal hostname as well)")
@@ -14,12 +18,6 @@ class ProcessingNode(models.Model):
     queue_count = models.PositiveIntegerField(default=0, help_text="Number of tasks currently being processed by this node (as reported by the node itself)")
     available_options = fields.JSONField(default=dict(), help_text="Description of the options that can be used for processing")
     
-    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        super(ProcessingNode, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-
-        # Initialize api client
-        self.api_client = ApiClient(self.hostname, self.port)
-
     def __str__(self):
         return '{}:{}'.format(self.hostname, self.port)
 
@@ -30,22 +28,64 @@ class ProcessingNode(models.Model):
 
         :returns: True if information could be updated, False otherwise
         """
-        info = self.api_client.info()
-        if info != None:
+        api_client = self.api_client()
+        try:
+            info = api_client.info()
             self.api_version = info['version']
             self.queue_count = info['taskQueueCount']
 
-            options = self.api_client.options()
-            if options != None:
-                self.available_options = options
-                self.last_refreshed = timezone.now()
+            options = api_client.options()
+            self.available_options = options
+            self.last_refreshed = timezone.now()
+            self.save()
+            return True
+        except ConnectionError:
+            return False
 
-                self.save()
-                return True
-        return False
+    def api_client(self):
+        return ApiClient(self.hostname, self.port)
 
     def get_available_options_json(self):
         """
         :returns available options in JSON string format
         """
         return json.dumps(self.available_options)
+
+    def process_new_task(self, images, name=None, options=[]):
+        """
+        Sends a set of images (and optional GCP file) via the API
+        to start processing.
+
+        :param images: list of path images
+        :param name: name of the task
+        :param options: options to be used for processing ([{'name': optionName, 'value': optionValue}, ...])
+
+        :returns UUID of the newly created task
+        """
+        if len(images) < 2: raise ProcessingException("Need at least 2 images")
+
+        api_client = self.api_client()
+        result = api_client.new_task(images, name, options)
+        if result['uuid']:
+            return result['uuid']
+        elif result['error']:
+            raise ProcessingException(result['error'])
+
+    def get_task_info(self, uuid):
+        """
+        Gets information about this task, such as name, creation date, 
+        processing time, status, command line options and number of 
+        images being processed.
+        """
+        api_client = self.api_client()
+        result = api_client.task_info(uuid)
+        if result['uuid']:
+            return result
+        elif result['error']:
+            raise ProcessingException(result['error'])
+
+# First time a processing node is created, automatically try to update
+@receiver(signals.post_save, sender=ProcessingNode, dispatch_uid="update_processing_node_info")
+def auto_update_node_info(sender, instance, created, **kwargs):
+    if created:
+        instance.update_node_info()
diff --git a/nodeodm/tests.py b/nodeodm/tests.py
index 46e1bd77..39e1288a 100644
--- a/nodeodm/tests.py
+++ b/nodeodm/tests.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import subprocess, time
 from os import path
 from .models import ProcessingNode
 from .api_client import ApiClient
+from requests.exceptions import ConnectionError
 
 current_dir = path.dirname(path.realpath(__file__))
 
@@ -31,8 +32,8 @@ class TestClientApi(TestCase):
 
     def test_offline_api(self):
         api = ApiClient("offline-host", 3000)
-        self.assertTrue(api.info() == None)
-        self.assertTrue(api.options() == None)
+        self.assertRaises(ConnectionError, api.info)
+        self.assertRaises(ConnectionError, api.options)
 
     def test_info(self):
         info = self.api_client.info()
@@ -46,12 +47,12 @@ class TestClientApi(TestCase):
     def test_online_processing_node(self):
         online_node = ProcessingNode.objects.get(pk=1)
         self.assertTrue(str(online_node) == "localhost:11223", "Formatting string works")
-        self.assertTrue(online_node.last_refreshed != 0, "Last refreshed not yet set")
+        self.assertTrue(online_node.last_refreshed == None, "Last refreshed not yet set")
         self.assertTrue(len(online_node.available_options) == 0, "Available options not yet set")
         self.assertTrue(online_node.api_version == "", "API version is not set")
 
         self.assertTrue(online_node.update_node_info(), "Could update info")
-        self.assertTrue(online_node.last_refreshed != 0, "Last refreshed is set")
+        self.assertTrue(online_node.last_refreshed != None, "Last refreshed is set")
         self.assertTrue(len(online_node.available_options) > 0, "Available options are set")
         self.assertTrue(online_node.api_version != "", "API version is set")
         
@@ -61,3 +62,28 @@ class TestClientApi(TestCase):
         offline_node = ProcessingNode.objects.get(pk=2)
         self.assertFalse(offline_node.update_node_info(), "Could not update info (offline)")
         self.assertTrue(offline_node.api_version == "", "API version is not set")
+
+    def test_auto_update_node_info(self):
+        online_node = ProcessingNode.objects.create(hostname="localhost", port=11223)
+        self.assertTrue(online_node.last_refreshed != None, "Last refreshed info is here (update_node_info() was called)")
+
+    def test_client_api(self):
+        api = ApiClient("localhost", 11223)
+
+        # Can call info(), options()
+        self.assertTrue(type(api.info()['version']) in [str, unicode])
+        self.assertTrue(len(api.options()) > 0)
+        
+        # Can call new_task()
+        import glob
+        res = api.new_task(
+                glob.glob("nodeodm/fixtures/test_images/*.JPG"), 
+                "test", 
+                [{'name': 'cmvs-maxImages', 'value': 5}])
+        uuid = res['uuid']
+        self.assertTrue(uuid != None)
+
+        # Can call task_info()
+        task_info = api.task_info(uuid)
+        self.assertTrue(isinstance(task_info['dateCreated'], (int, long)))
+        self.assertTrue(isinstance(task_info['uuid'], (str, unicode)))
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 49f0de41..b0629648 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,39 +1,22 @@
 anyjson==0.3.3
-attrs==16.2.0
-bravado==8.3.0
-bravado-core==4.5.0
-cffi==1.8.3
-crochet==1.5.0
-cryptography==1.5
+APScheduler==3.2.0
 Django==1.10
 django-common-helpers==0.8.0
-django-filter==0.15.2
+django-filter==0.15.3
 django-guardian==1.4.6
 django-webpack-loader==0.3.3
-djangorestframework==3.4.7
+djangorestframework==3.5.1
 drf-nested-routers==0.11.1
-enum34==1.1.6
-fido==3.2.0
-functools32==3.2.3.post2
-idna==2.1
-ipaddress==1.0.17
-jsonschema==2.5.1
+funcsigs==1.0.2
+futures==3.0.5
 Markdown==2.6.7
 pillow==3.3.1
+pip-autoremove==0.9.0
 psycopg2==2.6.2
-pyasn1==0.1.9
-pyasn1-modules==0.0.8
-pycparser==2.14
-pyOpenSSL==16.1.0
-python-dateutil==2.5.3
 pytz==2016.6.1
-PyYAML==3.12
 requests==2.11.1
-service-identity==16.0.0
-simplejson==3.8.2
+rfc3987==1.3.7
 six==1.10.0
-swagger-spec-validator==2.0.2
-Twisted==16.4.1
-yelp-bytes==0.3.0
-yelp-encodings==0.1.3
-zope.interface==4.3.2
+strict-rfc3339==0.7
+tzlocal==1.3
+webcolors==1.5
diff --git a/webodm/settings.py b/webodm/settings.py
index c5f05ddc..c81b6a51 100644
--- a/webodm/settings.py
+++ b/webodm/settings.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ For the full list of settings and their values, see
 https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/1.10/ref/settings/
 """
 
-import os
+import os, sys
 from django.contrib.messages import constants as messages
 
 # Build paths inside the project like this: os.path.join(BASE_DIR, ...)
@@ -181,6 +181,10 @@ LOGGING = {
         'app.logger': {
             'handlers': ['console'],
             'level': 'INFO',
+        },
+        'apscheduler.executors.default': {
+            'handlers': ['console'],
+            'level': 'WARN',
         }
     }
 }
@@ -212,6 +216,8 @@ REST_FRAMEWORK = {
   'PAGE_SIZE': 10,
 }
 
+TESTING = sys.argv[1:2] == ['test']
+
 try:
     from .local_settings import *
 except ImportError: