diff --git a/examples/tigerasi_is_busy.py b/examples/tigerasi_is_busy.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f8dbff4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/tigerasi_is_busy.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Connects to the Tiger Box, moves some axes, returns to starting pose."""
+
+from tigerasi.tiger_controller import TigerController
+
+
+PORT_NAME = "COM4"  # a string indicating the port name.
+# port name can be left as None on Linux if udev rules were installed.
+
+print("Connecting to Tiger Controller... ", end=" ", flush=True)
+box = TigerController(PORT_NAME)
+print("done.")
+
+# Start moving the x and y axes.
+box.move_relative(x=-2000, y=-2000)
+axis_moving_states = box.are_axes_moving()
+axis_moving_states_subset = box.are_axes_moving('x', 'y')
+x_is_moving = box.is_axis_moving('x')
+print(f"moving states (all axes): {axis_moving_states}")
+print(f"moving states (x and y): {axis_moving_states_subset}")
+print(f"x axis moving state: {x_is_moving}")
+box.move_relative(x=2000, y=2000)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/tigerasi/tiger_controller.py b/src/tigerasi/tiger_controller.py
index 047e1df..9d4d0da 100644
--- a/src/tigerasi/tiger_controller.py
+++ b/src/tigerasi/tiger_controller.py
@@ -1078,35 +1078,57 @@ def get_ttl_output_state(self, wait: bool = True):
         return bool(int(reply.lstrip(':A ')))
 
     def is_moving(self):
-        """blocks. True if any axes is moving. False otherwise."""
+        """True if any axes is moving. False otherwise. Blocks."""
+        return self.are_axes_moving()
+
+    def is_axis_moving(self, axis: str):
+        """True if the specified axis is moving. False otherwise. Blocks."""
+        return next(iter(self.are_axes_moving(axis).items()))[-1] # True or False
+
+    @axis_check()
+    def are_axes_moving(self, *axes: str):
+        """Return a dict of booleans, keyed by axis, indicating whether the
+        specified axes are (True) or are not (False) moving. Defaults to all
+        lettered axes if none are specified. Blocks. Implements
+        `RDSTAT <http://asiimaging.com/docs/products/serial_commands#commandrdstat_rs>`_
+        command."""
         # Wait at least 20[ms] following the last time we sent a command.
         # (Handles edge case where the last command was sent with wait=False.)
         time_since_last_cmd = perf_counter() - self._last_cmd_send_time
         sleep_time = REPLY_WAIT_TIME_S - time_since_last_cmd
         if sleep_time > 0:
             sleep(sleep_time)
-        # Send the inquiry. Handle: ":A \r\n" and ":A\r\n"
-        reply = self.send(f"{Cmds.STATUS.value}\r").rstrip().rstrip('\r\n')
+        if not axes:  # Default to all lettered axes if none are specified.
+            axes = [x for x in self.ordered_axes if not x.isnumeric()]
+        axes_str = ''.join([f" {x.upper()}?" for x in axes])
+        # Send the inquiry. Handle: ":A \r\n" and ":A\r\n" and remove ":A " from reply
+        reply = self.send(f"{Cmds.RDSTAT.value + axes_str}\r").rstrip().rstrip('\r\n').lstrip(ACK).lstrip()
         # interpret reply.
         # Sometimes tigerbox replies with ACK to this cmd instead of B or N.
         # Re-issue cmd if we received an ACK.
         if reply == ACK:
             self.log.warning("Received ':A' when we expected 'N' or 'B'. "
                              "Re-issuing command.")
-            reply = self.send(f"{Cmds.STATUS.value}\r").rstrip('\r\n').strip()
-        if reply == "B":
-            return True
-        elif reply == "N":
-            return False
-        else:
-            raise RuntimeError(f"Error. Cannot tell if device is moving. "
+            reply = self.send(f"{Cmds.RDSTAT.value + axes_str}\r").rstrip().rstrip('\r\n').lstrip(ACK).lstrip()
+
+        axis_states = list(reply)
+        if 'B' not in reply and 'N' not in reply:
+            raise RuntimeError(f"Error. Cannot tell if axes are moving. "
                                f"Received: '{reply}'")
+        return {x.upper(): state == 'B' for x, state in zip(axes, axis_states)}
 
     def wait(self):
         """Block until tigerbox is idle."""
         while self.is_moving():
             pass
 
+    # TODO: this needs to be tested
+    @axis_check()
+    def wait_on_axis(self, *axes: str):
+        """Block until specified axis is idle."""
+        while True in self.is_axis_moving(*axes).items():
+            pass
+
     def clear_incoming_message_queue(self):
         """Clear input buffer and reset skipped replies."""
         self.skipped_replies = 0