diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 4984b16..e0d16c7 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -5,3 +5,7 @@ scratch*
 .idea
 build
 dist
+
+# Nosetests files
+cover/
+.coverage
diff --git a/sucks/__init__.py b/sucks/__init__.py
index bcc764b..c2cbde3 100644
--- a/sucks/__init__.py
+++ b/sucks/__init__.py
@@ -9,7 +9,61 @@ import requests
 import stringcase
 from sleekxmpp import ClientXMPP, Callback, MatchXPath
 from sleekxmpp.xmlstream import ET
+from sleekxmpp.exceptions import XMPPError
 
+# These consts convert to and from Sucks's consts (which closely match what the UI and manuals use)
+# to and from what the Ecovacs API uses (which are sometimes very oddly named and have random capitalization.)
+CLEAN_MODE_TO_ECOVACS = {
+    'auto': 'auto',
+    'edge': 'border',
+    'spot': 'spot',
+    'single_room': 'singleroom',
+    'stop': 'stop'
+}
+
+CLEAN_MODE_FROM_ECOVACS = {
+    'auto': 'auto',
+    'border': 'edge',
+    'spot': 'spot',
+    'singleroom': 'single_room',
+    'stop': 'stop',
+    'going': 'returning'
+}
+
+FAN_SPEED_TO_ECOVACS = {
+    'normal': 'standard',
+    'high': 'strong'
+}
+
+FAN_SPEED_FROM_ECOVACS = {
+    'standard': 'normal',
+    'strong': 'high'
+}
+
+CHARGE_MODE_TO_ECOVACS = {
+    'return': 'go',
+    'returning': 'Going',
+    'charging': 'SlotCharging',
+    'idle': 'Idle'
+}
+
+CHARGE_MODE_FROM_ECOVACS = {
+    'going': 'returning',
+    'slot_charging': 'charging',
+    'idle': 'idle'
+}
+
+COMPONENT_TO_ECOVACS = {
+    'main_brush': 'Brush',
+    'side_brush': 'SideBrush',
+    'filter': 'DustCaseHeap'
+}
+
+COMPONENT_FROM_ECOVACS = {
+    'brush': 'main_brush',
+    'side_brush': 'side_brush',
+    'dust_case_heap': 'filter'
+}
 
 class EcoVacsAPI:
     CLIENT_KEY = "eJUWrzRv34qFSaYk"
@@ -126,54 +180,197 @@ class EcoVacsAPI:
         return str(b64encode(result), 'utf8')
 
 
+class EventEmitter(object):
+    """A very simple event emitting system."""
+    def __init__(self):
+        self._subscribers = []
+
+    def subscribe(self, callback):
+        listener = EventListener(self, callback)
+        self._subscribers.append(listener)
+        return listener
+
+    def unsubscribe(self, listener):
+        self._subscribers.remove(listener)
+
+    def notify(self, event):
+        for subscriber in self._subscribers:
+            subscriber.callback(event)
+
+
+class EventListener(object):
+    """Object that allows event consumers to easily unsubscribe from events."""
+    def __init__(self, emitter, callback):
+        self._emitter = emitter
+        self.callback = callback
+
+    def unsubscribe(self):
+        self._emitter.unsubscribe(self)
+
+
 class VacBot():
-    def __init__(self, user, domain, resource, secret, vacuum, continent, server_address=None):
+    def __init__(self, user, domain, resource, secret, vacuum, continent, server_address=None, monitor=False):
 
         self.vacuum = vacuum
+
+        # If True, the VacBot object will handle keeping track of all statuses,
+        # including the initial request for statuses, and new requests after the
+        # VacBot returns from being offline. It will also cause it to regularly
+        # request component lifespans
+        self._monitor = monitor
+
+        self._failed_pings = 0
+
+        # These three are representations of the vacuum state as reported by the API
         self.clean_status = None
         self.charge_status = None
         self.battery_status = None
 
-        self.xmpp = EcoVacsXMPP(user, domain, resource, secret, continent, server_address)
+        # This is an aggregate state managed by the sucks library, combining the clean and charge events to a single state
+        self.vacuum_status = None
+        self.fan_speed = None
 
+        # Populated by component Lifespan reports
+        self.components = {}
+
+        self.statusEvents = EventEmitter()
+        self.batteryEvents = EventEmitter()
+        self.lifespanEvents = EventEmitter()
+        self.errorEvents = EventEmitter()
+
+        self.xmpp = EcoVacsXMPP(user, domain, resource, secret, continent, server_address)
         self.xmpp.subscribe_to_ctls(self._handle_ctl)
 
     def connect_and_wait_until_ready(self):
         self.xmpp.connect_and_wait_until_ready()
 
-        self.xmpp.schedule('Ping', 30, lambda: self.xmpp.send_ping(self._vacuum_address()), repeat=True)
+        self.xmpp.schedule('Ping', 30, lambda: self.send_ping(), repeat=True)
+
+        if self._monitor:
+            # Do a first ping, which will also fetch initial statuses if the ping succeeds
+            self.send_ping()
+            self.xmpp.schedule('Components', 3600, lambda: self.refresh_components(), repeat=True)
 
     def _handle_ctl(self, ctl):
         method = '_handle_' + ctl['event']
         if hasattr(self, method):
             getattr(self, method)(ctl)
 
+    def _handle_error(self, event):
+        error = event['error']
+        self.errorEvents.notify(error)
+        logging.debug("*** error = " + error)
+
+    def _handle_life_span(self, event):
+        type = event['type']
+        try:
+            type = COMPONENT_FROM_ECOVACS[type]
+        except KeyError:
+            logging.warning("Unknown component type: '" + type + "'")
+
+        total = float(event['total'])
+        val = float(event['val'])
+        lifespan = val / total
+        self.components[type] = lifespan
+
+        lifespan_event = {'type': type, 'lifespan': lifespan}
+        self.lifespanEvents.notify(lifespan_event)
+        logging.debug("*** life_span " + type + " = " + str(lifespan))
+
     def _handle_clean_report(self, event):
-        self.clean_status = event['type']
-        logging.debug("*** clean_status = " + self.clean_status)
+        type = event['type']
+        try:
+            type = CLEAN_MODE_FROM_ECOVACS[type]
+        except KeyError:
+            logging.warning("Unknown cleaning status '" + type + "'")
+        self.clean_status = type
+        self.vacuum_status = type
+        fan = event.get('speed', None)
+        if fan is not None:
+            try:
+                fan = FAN_SPEED_FROM_ECOVACS[fan]
+            except KeyError:
+                logging.warning("Unknown fan speed: '" + fan + "'")
+        self.fan_speed = fan
+        self.statusEvents.notify(self.vacuum_status)
+        if self.fan_speed:
+            logging.debug("*** clean_status = " + self.clean_status + " fan_speed = " + self.fan_speed)
+        else:
+            logging.debug("*** clean_status = " + self.clean_status + " fan_speed = None")
 
     def _handle_battery_info(self, iq):
         try:
             self.battery_status = float(iq['power']) / 100
-            logging.debug("*** battery_status = {:.0%}".format(self.battery_status))
         except ValueError:
             logging.warning("couldn't parse battery status " + ET.tostring(iq))
+        else:
+            self.batteryEvents.notify(self.battery_status)
+            logging.debug("*** battery_status = {:.0%}".format(self.battery_status))
 
     def _handle_charge_state(self, event):
-        report = event['type']
-        if report == 'going':
-            self.charge_status = 'returning'
-        elif report == 'slot_charging':
-            self.charge_status = 'charging'
-        elif report == 'idle':
-            self.charge_status = 'idle'
-        else:
-            logging.warning("Unknown charging status '" + report + "'")
+        status = event['type']
+        try:
+            status = CHARGE_MODE_FROM_ECOVACS[status]
+        except KeyError:
+            logging.warning("Unknown charging status '" + status + "'")
+
+        self.charge_status = status
+        if status != 'idle' or self.vacuum_status == 'charging':
+            # We have to ignore the idle messages, because all it means is that it's not
+            # currently charging, in which case the clean_status is a better indicator
+            # of what the vacuum is currently up to.
+            self.vacuum_status = status
+            self.statusEvents.notify(self.vacuum_status)
         logging.debug("*** charge_status = " + self.charge_status)
 
     def _vacuum_address(self):
         return self.vacuum['did'] + '@' + self.vacuum['class'] + '.ecorobot.net/atom'
 
+    def send_ping(self):
+        try:
+            self.xmpp.send_ping(self._vacuum_address())
+        except XMPPError as err:
+            logging.warning("Ping did not reach VacBot. Will retry.")
+            logging.debug("*** Error type: " + err.etype)
+            logging.debug("*** Error condition: " + err.condition)
+            self._failed_pings += 1
+            if self._failed_pings >= 4:
+                self.vacuum_status = 'offline'
+                self.statusEvents.notify(self.vacuum_status)
+        else:
+            self._failed_pings = 0
+            if self._monitor:
+                # If we don't yet have a vacuum status, request initial statuses again now that the ping succeeded
+                if self.vacuum_status == 'offline' or self.vacuum_status is None:
+                    self.request_all_statuses()
+            else:
+                # If we're not auto-monitoring the status, then just reset the status to None, which indicates unknown
+                if self.vacuum_status == 'offline':
+                    self.vacuum_status = None
+                    self.statusEvents.notify(self.vacuum_status)
+
+    def refresh_components(self):
+        try:
+            self.run(GetLifeSpan('main_brush'))
+            self.run(GetLifeSpan('side_brush'))
+            self.run(GetLifeSpan('filter'))
+        except XMPPError as err:
+            logging.warning("Component refresh requests failed to reach VacBot. Will try again later.")
+            logging.debug("*** Error type: " + err.etype)
+            logging.debug("*** Error condition: " + err.condition)
+
+    def request_all_statuses(self):
+        try:
+            self.run(GetCleanState())
+            self.run(GetChargeState())
+            self.run(GetBatteryState())
+        except XMPPError as err:
+            logging.warning("Initial status requests failed to reach VacBot. Will try again on next ping.")
+            logging.debug("*** Error type: " + err.etype)
+            logging.debug("*** Error condition: " + err.condition)
+        else:
+            self.refresh_components()
+
     def send_command(self, xml):
         self.xmpp.send_command(xml, self._vacuum_address())
 
@@ -218,11 +415,16 @@ class EcoVacsXMPP(ClientXMPP):
     def _handle_ctl(self, message):
         the_good_part = message.get_payload()[0][0]
         as_dict = self._ctl_to_dict(the_good_part)
-        for s in self.ctl_subscribers:
-            s(as_dict)
+        if as_dict is not None:
+            for s in self.ctl_subscribers:
+                s(as_dict)
 
     def _ctl_to_dict(self, xml):
         result = xml.attrib.copy()
+        if 'td' not in result:
+            # This happens for commands with no response data, such as PlaySound
+            return
+
         result['event'] = result.pop('td')
         if xml:
             result.update(xml[0].attrib)
@@ -265,28 +467,6 @@ class EcoVacsXMPP(ClientXMPP):
 
 
 class VacBotCommand:
-    CLEAN_MODE = {
-        'auto': 'auto',
-        'edge': 'border',
-        'spot': 'spot',
-        'single_room': 'singleroom',
-        'stop': 'stop'
-    }
-    FAN_SPEED = {
-        'normal': 'standard',
-        'high': 'strong'
-    }
-    CHARGE_MODE = {
-        'return': 'go',
-        'returning': 'Going',
-        'charging': 'SlotCharging',
-        'idle': 'Idle'
-    }
-    COMPONENT = {
-        'main_brush': 'Brush',
-        'side_brush': 'SideBrush',
-        'filter': 'DustCaseHeap'
-    }
     ACTION = {
         'forward': 'forward',
         'left': 'SpinLeft',
@@ -320,7 +500,7 @@ class VacBotCommand:
 
 class Clean(VacBotCommand):
     def __init__(self, mode='auto', speed='normal', terminal=False):
-        super().__init__('Clean', {'clean': {'type': self.CLEAN_MODE[mode], 'speed': self.FAN_SPEED[speed]}})
+        super().__init__('Clean', {'clean': {'type': CLEAN_MODE_TO_ECOVACS[mode], 'speed': FAN_SPEED_TO_ECOVACS[speed]}})
 
 
 class Edge(Clean):
@@ -340,7 +520,7 @@ class Stop(Clean):
 
 class Charge(VacBotCommand):
     def __init__(self):
-        super().__init__('Charge', {'charge': {'type': self.CHARGE_MODE['return']}})
+        super().__init__('Charge', {'charge': {'type': CHARGE_MODE_TO_ECOVACS['return']}})
 
 
 class Move(VacBotCommand):
@@ -348,6 +528,11 @@ class Move(VacBotCommand):
         super().__init__('Move', {'move': {'action': self.ACTION[action]}})
 
 
+class PlaySound(VacBotCommand):
+    def __init__(self, sid="0"):
+        super().__init__('PlaySound', {'sid': sid})
+
+
 class GetCleanState(VacBotCommand):
     def __init__(self):
         super().__init__('GetCleanState')
@@ -365,7 +550,7 @@ class GetBatteryState(VacBotCommand):
 
 class GetLifeSpan(VacBotCommand):
     def __init__(self, component):
-        super().__init__('GetLifeSpan', {'type': self.COMPONENT[component]})
+        super().__init__('GetLifeSpan', {'type': COMPONENT_TO_ECOVACS[component]})
 
 
 class SetTime(VacBotCommand):
diff --git a/tests/test_commands.py b/tests/test_commands.py
index d3fe743..a3039b3 100644
--- a/tests/test_commands.py
+++ b/tests/test_commands.py
@@ -59,6 +59,18 @@ def test_stop_command():
                   b'<ctl td="Clean"><clean speed="standard" type="stop" /></ctl>')
 
 
+def test_play_sound_command():
+    c = PlaySound()
+    assert_equals(ElementTree.tostring(c.to_xml()),
+                  b'<ctl sid="0" td="PlaySound" />')
+
+
+def test_play_sound_command_with_sid():
+    c = PlaySound(sid="1")
+    assert_equals(ElementTree.tostring(c.to_xml()),
+                  b'<ctl sid="1" td="PlaySound" />')
+
+
 def test_get_clean_state_command():
     c = GetCleanState()
     assert_equals(ElementTree.tostring(c.to_xml()),
diff --git a/tests/test_vacbot.py b/tests/test_vacbot.py
index 8da9ab3..6114e9e 100644
--- a/tests/test_vacbot.py
+++ b/tests/test_vacbot.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ from nose.tools import *
 
 from sucks import *
 
+from unittest.mock import Mock
+from sleekxmpp.exceptions import XMPPError
 
 
 def test_handle_clean_report():
@@ -10,6 +12,22 @@ def test_handle_clean_report():
 
     v._handle_ctl({'event': 'clean_report', 'type': 'auto', 'speed': 'strong'})
     assert_equals('auto', v.clean_status)
+    assert_equals('high', v.fan_speed)
+
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'clean_report', 'type': 'border', 'speed': 'standard'})
+    assert_equals('edge', v.clean_status)
+    assert_equals('normal', v.fan_speed)
+
+    # Missing fan_speed
+    v = a_vacbot()
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'clean_report', 'type': 'border'})
+    assert_equals('edge', v.clean_status)
+    assert_is_none(v.fan_speed)
+
+    # For states not handled by sucks constants, fall back to just using whatever the vacuum said
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'clean_report', 'type': 'a_type_not_supported_by_sucks', 'speed': 'a_weird_speed'})
+    assert_equals('a_type_not_supported_by_sucks', v.clean_status)
+    assert_equals('a_weird_speed', v.fan_speed)
 
 
 def test_handle_charge_state():
@@ -25,6 +43,28 @@ def test_handle_charge_state():
     v._handle_ctl({'event': 'charge_state', 'type': 'idle'})
     assert_equals('idle', v.charge_status)
 
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'charge_state', 'type': 'a_type_not_supported_by_sucks'})
+    assert_equals('a_type_not_supported_by_sucks', v.charge_status)
+
+
+def test_vacuum_states():
+    # Vacuum state usually mirrors the latest charge or clean report, but there are some edge cases where it doesn't
+    # work that way. This test ensures the edge cases are handled correctly.
+    v = a_vacbot()
+    assert_equals(None, v.vacuum_status)
+
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'clean_report', 'type': 'auto', 'speed': 'strong'})
+    assert_equals('auto', v.vacuum_status)
+
+    # Ignore the "idle" charge state in most cases, as it can be reported during a cleaning (such as during initialization)
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'clean_report', 'type': 'auto'})
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'charge_state', 'type': 'idle'})
+    assert_equals('auto', v.vacuum_status)
+
+    # However, we do honor the idle state when our current state is charging, as that can happen in some certain combination of events
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'charge_state', 'type': 'slot_charging'})
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'charge_state', 'type': 'idle'})
+    assert_equals('idle', v.vacuum_status)
 
 def test_handle_battery_info():
     v = a_vacbot()
@@ -39,6 +79,143 @@ def test_handle_battery_info():
     v._handle_ctl({'event': 'battery_info', 'power': '000'})
     assert_equals(0.0, v.battery_status)
 
+def test_lifespan_reports():
+    v = a_vacbot()
+    assert_equals({}, v.components)
+
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'life_span', 'type': 'side_brush', 'total': '100', 'val': '50'})
+    assert_equals({'side_brush': 0.5}, v.components)
+
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'life_span', 'type': 'brush', 'total': '200', 'val': '1'})
+    assert_equals({'side_brush': 0.5, 'main_brush': 0.005}, v.components)
+
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'life_span', 'type': 'side_brush', 'total': '100', 'val': '0'})
+    assert_equals({'side_brush': 0, 'main_brush': 0.005}, v.components)
+
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'life_span', 'type': 'a_weird_component', 'total': '100', 'val': '87'})
+    assert_equals({'side_brush': 0, 'main_brush': 0.005, 'a_weird_component': 0.87}, v.components)
+
+def test_send_ping_no_monitor():
+    v = a_vacbot()
+
+    mock = v.xmpp.send_ping = Mock()
+    v.send_ping()
+
+    # On four failed pings, vacuum state gets set to 'offline'
+    mock.side_effect = XMPPError()
+    v.send_ping()
+    v.send_ping()
+    v.send_ping()
+    assert_equals(None, v.vacuum_status)
+    v.send_ping()
+    assert_equals('offline', v.vacuum_status)
+
+    # On a successful ping after the offline state, state gets reset to None, indicating that it is unknown
+    mock.side_effect = None
+    v.send_ping()
+    assert_equals(None, v.vacuum_status)
+
+
+def test_send_ping_with_monitor():
+    v = a_vacbot(monitor=True)
+
+    ping_mock = v.xmpp.send_ping = Mock()
+    request_statuses_mock = v.request_all_statuses = Mock()
+
+    # First ping should try to fetch statuses
+    v.send_ping()
+    assert_equals(1, request_statuses_mock.call_count)
+
+    # Nothing blowing up is success
+
+    # On four failed pings, vacuum state gets set to 'offline'
+    ping_mock.side_effect = XMPPError()
+    v.send_ping()
+    v.send_ping()
+    v.send_ping()
+    assert_equals(None, v.vacuum_status)
+    v.send_ping()
+    assert_equals('offline', v.vacuum_status)
+
+    # On a successful ping after the offline state, a request for initial statuses is made
+    ping_mock.side_effect = None
+    request_statuses_mock.reset_mock()
+    v.send_ping()
+    assert_equals(1, request_statuses_mock.call_count)
+
+
+def test_status_event_subscription():
+    v = a_vacbot()
+
+    mock = Mock()
+    v.statusEvents.subscribe(mock)
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'clean_report', 'type': 'auto', 'speed': 'strong'})
+    mock.assert_called_once_with('auto')
+
+    mock = Mock()
+    v.statusEvents.subscribe(mock)
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'charge_state', 'type': 'going'})
+    mock.assert_called_once_with('returning')
+
+    # Test unsubscribe
+    mock = Mock()
+    subscription = v.statusEvents.subscribe(mock)
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'charge_state', 'type': 'going'})
+    assert_equals(1, mock.call_count)
+    subscription.unsubscribe()
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'charge_state', 'type': 'slot_charging'})
+    assert_equals(1, mock.call_count)
+
+def test_battery_event_subscription():
+    v = a_vacbot()
+
+    mock = Mock()
+    v.batteryEvents.subscribe(mock)
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'battery_info', 'power': '095'})
+    mock.assert_called_once_with(0.95)
+
+    # Test unsubscribe
+    mock = Mock()
+    subscription = v.batteryEvents.subscribe(mock)
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'battery_info', 'power': '095'})
+    assert_equals(1, mock.call_count)
+    subscription.unsubscribe()
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'battery_info', 'power': '090'})
+    assert_equals(1, mock.call_count)
+
+def test_lifespan_event_subscription():
+    v = a_vacbot()
+
+    mock = Mock()
+    v.lifespanEvents.subscribe(mock)
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'life_span', 'type': 'side_brush', 'total': '100', 'val': '50'})
+    mock.assert_called_once_with({'type': 'side_brush', 'lifespan': 0.5})
+
+    # Test unsubscribe
+    mock = Mock()
+    subscription = v.lifespanEvents.subscribe(mock)
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'life_span', 'type': 'side_brush', 'total': '100', 'val': '50'})
+    assert_equals(1, mock.call_count)
+    subscription.unsubscribe()
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'life_span', 'type': 'side_brush', 'total': '100', 'val': '25'})
+    assert_equals(1, mock.call_count)
+
+def test_error_event_subscription():
+    v = a_vacbot()
+
+    mock = Mock()
+    v.errorEvents.subscribe(mock)
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'error', 'error': 'an_error_name'})
+    mock.assert_called_once_with('an_error_name')
+
+    # Test unsubscribe
+    mock = Mock()
+    subscription = v.errorEvents.subscribe(mock)
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'error', 'error': 'an_error_name'})
+    assert_equals(1, mock.call_count)
+    subscription.unsubscribe()
+    v._handle_ctl({'event': 'error', 'error': 'an_error_name'})
+    assert_equals(1, mock.call_count)
 
 def test_handle_unknown_ctl():
     v = a_vacbot()
@@ -67,8 +244,8 @@ def test_model_variation():
 
 
 
-def a_vacbot(bot=None):
+def a_vacbot(bot=None, monitor=False):
     if bot is None:
         bot = {"did": "E0000000001234567890", "class": "126", "nick": "bob"}
     return VacBot('20170101abcdefabcdefa', 'ecouser.net', 'abcdef12', 'A1b2C3d4efghijklmNOPQrstuvwxyz12',
-                  bot, 'na')
+                  bot, 'na', monitor=monitor)