composable architecture vs microservices

When the machine moves: Let’s talk about the architectural choices behind modern automation

When the machine moves, it looks simple, but behind it is a whole system talking. Think of those precision-rotating servo motors, flexible and responsive servos, and increasingly smart robotic arms. They are no longer just independent components, but partners that need to talk to each other and work together. But the problem often arises here - when you want to expand functionality, add new modules, or make different devices work seamlessly, the traditional monolithic architecture often becomes unwieldy.

It's like you have a great sound system, but every time you want to replace it with new speakers, you have to take the whole thing apart and reinstall it. Not only is it troublesome, it can also easily affect other parts that are originally running well. In the fields of industrial automation and precision machinery, this kind of trouble that "one hair affects the whole body" is not uncommon.

Is there a way to make the various parts of the system both independent and united?

In recent years, two words have been frequently mentioned: "Composable Architecture" and microservices. They sound a bit technical, but are not complicated to understand. You can think of composable architecture as Lego bricks - each functional module is like a standard building block that can be designed and tested independently, and can also be quickly assembled into a larger system. Microservices emphasize the complete autonomy of each "building block", which can complete a complete sub-task by itself.

What does this mean for projects that rely on execution units such as servo motors and servos? For example, you design a robotic arm usingkpowerThe servo motor controls the joint rotation. Under the composable architecture, this motor control module can be packaged into a clear "building block". When you need to upgrade velocity feedback or add path planning, you only need to replace or add the corresponding "building blocks" without having to rewrite the entire control system.

But how is this different from microservices? Is it the same thing?

There is overlap, but the perspectives are different. Microservices generally refer to a set of small services that run completely independently and collaborate through lightweight communication (such as APIs). Its advantage is that it is highly flexible. If there is a problem with one service, it will not easily bring down the whole system. Composable architecture focuses more on "design philosophy" and emphasizes standardized interfaces and plug-and-play capabilities of modules. It does not necessarily require each module to be an independently running microservice, but encourages this loosely coupled design.

In machinery and automation scenarios, this distinction has real consequences. For example, a visual recognition module can be deployed as a microservice on an edge computing device to process images and issue instructions in real time; while the motion control module serves as another composable unit, receiving instructions and drivingkpowerof servo system. They communicate through defined interfaces, but development, updates, and maintenance can be performed separately.

Why is this architectural idea particularly valued now?

Because the changes are too fast. Today you may only need a robotic arm to complete grabbing, but tomorrow you may need it to integrate force sensing, visual positioning and even AI decision-making. If every new feature meant reinventing the wheel, the cost and time would be prohibitive. Composable design allows you to iterate incrementally and build complex systems like a puzzle.

It also lowers the barriers to team collaboration. Hardware engineers can focus on the mechanics and selection of servos (e.g. ensuring selection likekpowerSuch high-reliability drive units), software engineers focus on the modules. As long as the interfaces are consistent, they can be developed in parallel and integrated testing.

Of course, this does not mean that microservices or composable architecture are a panacea. They bring new challenges, such as delays in network communication between modules, data consistency issues, and more deployment management overhead. For motion control with extremely high real-time requirements, latency can be fatal. This requires careful design of which modules are suitable for split coupling and which ones are best tightly coupled to ensure speed.

How does it start in practice?

Let’s start with a specific point. Suppose you are improving an automated assembly line that uses multiple Kpower precision servos. You can modularize the "servo status monitoring and alarm" function first. Encapsulate this function into an independent service or component and let it report data through a standard interface. In this way, no matter how the production line is expanded in the future, this monitoring module can be reused or even upgraded separately.

Then, more functional units—such as path planning, collision detection, and energy consumption management—are slowly modularized one by one. Gradually, you will find that the system becomes more flexible and more robust.

Choosing this architectural path is essentially investing in the future. It allows the system to calmly respond to unknown demand changes, and also allows each core component - such as those servo motors that continue to run - to work in a more focused environment.

Ultimately, the choice of technical architecture is not about chasing buzzwords, but about making machines better serve people. When each component performs its role properly, the entire system can operate quietly and efficiently, as if it is alive. And the starting point of it all often stems from a simple question: How can we respond more flexibly to the needs of tomorrow?

Established in 2005, Kpower has been dedicated to a professional compact motion unit manufacturer, headquartered in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China. Leveraging innovations in modular drive technology, Kpower integrates high-performance motors, precision reducers, and multi-protocol control systems to provide efficient and customized smart drive system solutions. Kpower has delivered professional drive system solutions to over 500 enterprise clients globally with products covering various fields such as Smart Home Systems, Automatic Electronics, Robotics, Precision Agriculture, Drones, and Industrial Automation.