When server system meets microservice architecture: a non-linear technical journey

You may not believe it, but sometimes mechanical systems such as servo motors and steering gears can be as troublesome as software projects. Imagine: the equipment in the workshop is obviously very sophisticated in every component, but once it is connected to the Internet and collaborates, problems frequently occur - response delays, data islands, and maintenance windows are getting longer and longer. What's the problem? Often it's not the hardware itself, but the management architecture behind the system that is too "clunky".

At this time, there is an idea that may bring about a turning point: introducing the microservice architecture into the control layer of the hardware system. Microservices? Yes, it is the model that breaks down a large application into multiple independent small services. Talking about it together with mechanical control, it sounds like a cross-border combination, but the logic behind it is actually surprisingly natural.

Microservice architecture: allowing mechanical systems to travel with ease

The control software of traditional mechanical systems is often "big" - all functional modules are squeezed into a huge program. If you want to adjust one of the links, you may have to redeploy the entire system. It's like a complex machine that has to be dismantled every time you tighten a screw.

The microservice architecture provides a more flexible approach. It decomposes the control logic into multiple independent service units, each unit focusing on a specific task. For example, one service only handles position feedback, and the other only handles temperature monitoring. They communicate through lightweight protocols, and each can be independently updated, expanded, and even restarted.

This brings about several very real changes. Reliability has improved. Failure of one service will not bring down the entire system. Iterate faster. When adding new sensors or modules, you only need to deploy the corresponding new services without touching the original stable operation parts. In addition, resource utilization is more refined, and different services can dynamically allocate computing resources according to load.

Spring Boot's role: providing "quick start" for hardware control

If microservices are an architectural idea, then Spring Boot is more like a handy startup toolkit. It can help developers quickly build independent and runnable microservice units, saving a lot of duplication of basic configuration work. In a mechanical control scenario, this means that you can focus more on professional issues such as motion control and real-time communication without spending too much time on frame configuration.

This mode is particularly suitable for R&D environments that require frequent debugging and updates. You can first build a core control service, verify the basic logic, and then gradually add data analysis, early warning prediction, remote monitoring and other services to expand system capabilities like building blocks. The whole process is closer to "incremental innovation" than "reinvention".

How can it be used specifically?

For example: an automated production line using multiple servo motors. You can set up an independent microservice for each motor unit, responsible for the real-time position control, torque feedback and local protection logic of the motor. At the same time, a coordination service is set up to handle the synchronization between multiple motors. If a certain motor model is upgraded, only the corresponding services need to be updated without affecting the operation of the entire production line.

Another example is that in the steering gear system, functions such as angle calibration, fault diagnosis, and logging can be made into microservices. When the system needs to add a new diagnosis, just deploy the new diagnostic service module directly, and the original calibration logic will not be affected at all.

Let’s talk about considerations when choosing

Of course, not all scenarios apply. The microservice architecture will bring certain communication overhead. For extreme scenarios with nanosecond-level real-time response, a more compact integrated design may still be needed. But for most industrial applications—those systems that require real-time performance, maintainability, and long-term evolution—this architecture provides a balance.

When choosing, you can look at several aspects: whether the coupling between system modules is low enough, whether the team has the ability to maintain distributed systems, and whether the hardware network environment can ensure stable communication between services. Sometimes, it is safer to start with a core service as a pilot and gradually expand it than to completely reconstruct it.

Let’s talk about some of our experiences

existkpower, we try to integrate this software architecture thinking into some mechanical control projects. It's not to catch up with technology trends, but to actually encounter the challenge of the system becoming more and more "rigid". By introducing microservices and Spring Boot into the control layer of servo, steering gear and other systems, we have seen some positive changes: system updates no longer require long downtime windows, functional iterations can be run in small steps, and different modules can even be developed in parallel by different teams.

There is no silver bullet in the technology world, but with more cross-border ideas, you may be able to find loose ends in seemingly deadlocked areas. Whether you are designing a new production line or upgrading old equipment, you might as well think about it: Can those architectural patterns that have been proven in the IT field also bring some new flexibility to your hardware system? Sometimes, innovation comes from a casual handshake between different fields.

Established in 2005,kpowerhas been dedicated to a professional compact motion unit manufacturer, headquartered in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China. Leveraging innovations in modular drive technology,kpowerintegrates 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.