diff --git a/api/opentrons/drivers/smoothie_drivers/driver_3_0.py b/api/opentrons/drivers/smoothie_drivers/driver_3_0.py
index 399314d9f3f..c81c6a80ad2 100755
--- a/api/opentrons/drivers/smoothie_drivers/driver_3_0.py
+++ b/api/opentrons/drivers/smoothie_drivers/driver_3_0.py
@@ -269,8 +269,21 @@ def connect(self):
         self._setup()
 
     def disconnect(self):
+        if self._connection:
+            self._connection.close()
         self.simulating = True
 
+    def is_connected(self):
+        if not self._connection:
+            return False
+        return self._connection.is_open
+
+    @property
+    def port(self):
+        if not self._connection:
+            return None
+        return self._connection.port
+
     def get_fw_version(self):
         version = 'Virtual Smoothie'
         if not self.simulating:
diff --git a/api/opentrons/robot/robot.py b/api/opentrons/robot/robot.py
index dba59946b25..ec4c1e899b0 100755
--- a/api/opentrons/robot/robot.py
+++ b/api/opentrons/robot/robot.py
@@ -953,7 +953,7 @@ def get_serial_ports_list(self):
     def is_connected(self):
         if not self._driver:
             return False
-        return not self._driver.simulating
+        return self._driver.is_connected()
 
     def is_simulating(self):
         if not self._driver:
diff --git a/api/opentrons/server/endpoints/update.py b/api/opentrons/server/endpoints/update.py
index 5fcb33b1881..d44b8f4aa09 100644
--- a/api/opentrons/server/endpoints/update.py
+++ b/api/opentrons/server/endpoints/update.py
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 import asyncio
 from aiohttp import web
 
+from opentrons import robot
+
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
@@ -20,6 +22,39 @@ async def _install(filename, loop):
     return res
 
 
+async def _update_firmware(filename, loop):
+    # ensure there is a reference to the port
+    if not robot.is_connected():
+        robot.connect()
+
+    # get port name
+    port = str(robot._driver.port)
+    # set smoothieware into programming mode
+    robot._driver._smoothie_programming_mode()
+    # close the port so other application can access it
+    robot._driver._connection.close()
+
+    # run lpc21isp, THIS WILL TAKE AROUND 1 MINUTE TO COMPLETE
+    update_cmd = 'lpc21isp -wipe -donotstart {0} {1} {2} 12000'.format(
+        filename, port, robot.config.serial_speed)
+    proc = await asyncio.create_subprocess_shell(
+        update_cmd,
+        stdout=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
+        loop=loop)
+    rd = await proc.stdout.read()
+    res = rd.decode().strip()
+    await proc.wait()
+
+    # re-open the port
+    robot._driver._connection.open()
+    # reset smoothieware
+    robot._driver._smoothie_reset()
+    # run setup gcodes
+    robot._driver._setup()
+
+    return res
+
+
 async def install_api(request):
     """
     This handler accepts a POST request with Content-Type: multipart/form-data
@@ -53,3 +88,39 @@ async def install_api(request):
                 type(e), data, e.__traceback__)},
             status=500)
     return res
+
+
+async def update_firmware(request):
+    """
+    This handler accepts a POST request with Content-Type: multipart/form-data
+    and a file field in the body named "hex". The file should be a valid HEX
+    image to be flashed to the LPC1769. The received file is flashed using
+    lpc21isp, and then deleted and a success code is returned.
+    """
+    log.debug('Update Firmware request received')
+    data = await request.post()
+    try:
+        filename = data['hex'].filename
+        log.info('Flashing image "{}", this will take about 1 minute'.format(
+            filename))
+        content = data['hex'].file.read()
+
+        with open(filename, 'wb') as wf:
+            wf.write(content)
+
+        msg = await _update_firmware(filename, request.loop)
+        log.debug('Firmware Update complete')
+        try:
+            os.remove(filename)
+        except OSError:
+            pass
+        log.debug("Result: {}".format(msg))
+        res = web.json_response({
+            'message': msg,
+            'filename': filename})
+    except Exception as e:
+        res = web.json_response(
+            {'error': 'Exception {} raised by update of {}. Trace: {}'.format(
+                type(e), data, e.__traceback__)},
+            status=500)
+    return res
diff --git a/api/opentrons/server/main.py b/api/opentrons/server/main.py
index 2f3320de8db..0db8dffecbb 100755
--- a/api/opentrons/server/main.py
+++ b/api/opentrons/server/main.py
@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@ def init(loop=None):
     server.app.router.add_post('/lights/on', control.turn_on_rail_lights)
     server.app.router.add_post('/lights/off', control.turn_off_rail_lights)
     server.app.router.add_post('/server/update', update.install_api)
+    server.app.router.add_post(
+        '/server/update_firmware', update.update_firmware)
     server.app.router.add_post('/server/restart', control.restart)
     server.app.router.add_get('/calibration/deck', dc_endp.start)
     server.app.router.add_post('/calibration/deck', dc_endp.dispatch)
diff --git a/compute/scripts/lpc21isp b/compute/scripts/lpc21isp
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..935e9513d41
Binary files /dev/null and b/compute/scripts/lpc21isp differ