In 2020, the 14th Five-Year Plan gave the direction that all auxiliary equipment must be intelligent and connectable to internet. To enter AI age, equipment must also be able to provide more data, that means more sensors are needed so that AI can learn. 

When more data is needed, the system reliability also needs to increase.  Any system failure will not only result in production loss but also data loss. The need for uninterruptible control systems is getting higher and higher. 

In 2025, the 15th Five-Year Plan further enforced the direction of technology development is that we must lead innovation. This paper describes two of the most proper control systems of auxiliary equipment and the latest uninterruptible neural system for AI age.

Hard wired control system

Let us look at the control system of drying system instead of a complete system as a start for easy understanding. A drying system consists of a dryer and drying bins. The most proper control systems in the market still use one CPU in form of PLC or single broad computer in the dryer and all the sensors were wired directly into the input of dryer control. The output of the dryer controls the heater in the drying bin. 

The limitation of this kind of drying system is difficult to install at site and difficult to expand. Normally the limitation of one dryer can connect four to five drying bins. On the other hand, if the CPU in the dryer fails, the whole drying system fails. This was the first-generation digitization technology that motan started to use more than thirty years ago.

This control strategy is like a small company; the boss does everything himself.  When the boss is sick, the company stops.

First Generation Digitalization

Remote I/O systems

To connect more bins, the control system needs to be changed. Now signals are wired to a remote input and output (I/O) board in the drying bin and then connect to the CPU in the dryer via a device level network which is typically 125 to 256kbps. This allows more drying bins and installation is easier. However, the limitation on the number of bins is the capability of controller in the dryer and the slow network speed.

In addition, if you want to add more functions to the bin, it would be very difficult due to the limitation of the remote I/O board. Same as before, when the CPU in the main dryer breaks down, the whole drying system fails.

Now this is like the boss hired a few staff, but all staff are taking the direction from the boss and unable to stand on their own feet.  When the boss is sick, the company stops.

Second Generation Digitalization

Distributed Control System

Nowadays, AI age requires lots of information for self-learning. Much more sensors are needed to provide more information. For example, you want to trace carbon footprint of a part to find out how much energy is needed to produce this part. You need to know how much energy was used in the period and how much material was used in this period.

To make it easy, we put a CPU into the drying bin as well. The Input/Output of this CPU is also expandable. The CPU can control the heater, airflow, collect data such as temperatures, weight and energy etc. The MES can get all data from each individual drying bin. 

Meanwhile, thanks to the independent CPU, each drying bin can also connect seamlessly with conveying units, enabling closer integration between systems. This builds the foundation of an uninterruptible neural (control) system.

Smart Drying Bin

Drying bins become smart and independent from the dryer.  What if the dryer breaks down? The whole drying system still breaks down. That is why we invented modular dryers. 

Dryer is no longer one single unit but is made up of individual modules.  Each module delivers 450cbm of dry air. Each module has its own CPU and adjusts by itself based on the total amount of the dry air requirement of all bins together. To achieve redundancy, all you need is one additional module instead of one complete dryer.

Modular Drying System

On the conveying side, we provide modular blower system. Each blower will be a backup for all other blowers. This also provides an uninterruptible conveying system.

Modular Blower System

Uninterruptible neural system also requires a reliable network. We are using optical fiber ring network in our system. Optical fiber will not be affected by EMI and RFI (noise). Ring network provides redundancy to prevent cable breakage.

Optical Fiber Ring Network + Redundant Data Center

If you want a SCADA system for your factory, you need a data center to collect all data of all equipment in the system. What if the data center fails? We offer double or triple redundancy in the data center. Triple redundancy is a requirement in nuclear power plants. The chance of failure is less than 1e-20. motan is the first one who offers this in the market.

Uninterruptible neural system is not only the control system, and it will only work when the execution mechanism is also prepared for it.

At Chinaplas 2026, motan (Booth: 4.1F42) will showcase this as the main theme.