micro service architectures in node js

When servo motors connect to microservices: an easier way to control

Imagine you are assembling a delicate robotic arm, with each joint driven by a sensitive servo. You want it to grab, rotate, and place smoothly. But traditional control methods are like using a thick cable to pull all the puppets at the same time - if one movement gets stuck, the entire performance can come to a standstill. The code is tangled together, updating a feature is on thin ice, the system is getting heavier and heavier, and the response is getting slower and slower.

This is not just a software problem, it directly affects the "life" of the hardware. A delayed command may mean an inaccurate positioning and a decrease in repetition accuracy.

Is there a way to make the control software, like the mechanical module itself, flexible to assemble, work independently, and easy to maintain? That's what we're going to talk about today.

Microservices: Installing “modular joints” into complex systems

A simple analogy. In the past, we might write a huge "super program" to manage all the motors and sensors. This program is like a complex control room, and any small modification may affect the entire system.

Microservices architecture thinks differently. It splits this large program into many independent small services. For example, one service is responsible for communicating with a certain type of servo motor, another service is dedicated to path planning, and there is another service management user interface. Each service is a small and specialized process that "talks" through a clear interface, just like standardized mechanical modules that are put together through sophisticated interfaces.

It is especially suitable to build such microservices in a Node.js environment. The inherently asynchronous and event-driven nature of Node.js makes it particularly good at handling a large number of concurrent I/O operations - which exactly corresponds to scenarios where multiple sensors need to be monitored and multiple motors controlled at the same time. It is light and efficient, and uses JavaScript to unify the front-end and back-end languages, making development more like connecting Lego bricks instead of carving a boulder.

Doing so has brought about several visible changes:

• Independence and tenacity: Even if the microservice responsible for steering gear control needs to be updated or restarted occasionally, it will not affect the work of the visual recognition service. Minor glitches in the system no longer easily lead to complete paralysis.
• Flexible: If you need to manage hundreds of motors later in the project, you only need to enhance the "Motor Communication Service" or deploy more instances without rewriting the entire system. It's like adding new joint modules to a robotic arm without having to redesign the entire torso.
• Freedom of choice of technology: Different microservices can adopt the technology that best suits it. Maybe the motor drive service uses Node.js, and a certain core algorithm module uses Python. They each use their own strengths and collaborate through APIs.
• Clearer collaboration: Each service has clear responsibilities, and the code base is small but refined. When a new member joins, he does not need to understand hundreds of thousands of lines of "heavenly book", he only needs to focus on the few service modules he needs to contact.

From concept to practice: some random thoughts and context

Of course, no architecture is a silver bullet. Microservices bring deployment complexity, and network calls between services need to be carefully designed. But when you are faced with a mechatronics project that requires long-term evolution, possible additions and removals of hardware, and continuous iteration, this early design investment is often worth it.

It changes not only the code structure, but also a way of thinking.

Instead of asking, “How will our massive system adapt to this new motor model?” ask, “Do we need to create a new ‘motor adapter’ microservice, or extend the capabilities of an existing service?”

This modular idea is actually in line with precision mechanical design.kpowerWhen providing high-performance servo drives, we also deeply understand the importance of this "independence in collaboration". Reliable hardware is the foundation, and a clear and flexible software control architecture is the nervous system that allows the potential of the hardware to be fully unleashed.

You will find that when the software layer becomes clear, your "dialogue" with the hardware will be more direct and efficient. You can experiment with a new control more quickly, upgrade a communication protocol more safely, and respond to changing needs more easily.

It's also the beginning

So, if you are thinking about how to manage an increasingly complex robot, automation equipment, or any project involving coordinated control of multiple axes, you might as well step out of the framework of that "monolith" application and look at the "microservices" path next to it.

It's not necessarily the simplest, but it may be the path to a more robust and flexible system. Just like using standard servo motors and structural parts to build an innovative machine, the microservice architecture uses standard service modules to help you build a control core that is more adaptable to the future.

It all started with a simple decision: break down complex problems into small, surmountable goals. All that's left is to connect them and watch the whole system run smoothly.

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.