Method for estimating the position and speed of an actuator body in an electromagnetic actuator for controlling the valve of an engine

Method for estimating the position (x) and the speed (v) of an actuator body (4) in an electromagnetic actuator (1) for controlling a valve (2) of an engine;

• the actuator body (4) being made at least partly of ferromagnetic material and being displaced towards at least one electromagnet (8) through the effect of the force of magnetic attraction generated by said electromagnet (8);
• the method being characterised by the fact that starting from a known value of the position (x) and a first moment (T1), a value is calculated at the first moment (T1) of the magnetic flux (p) passing through a magnetic circuit (18) constituted by the electromagnet (8) and by the actuator body (4), the value of the speed (v) at the first moment (T1) is estimated as a function of the magnetic flux (φ) and the position (x) at the first moment (T1), and the value is calculated at a second moment (T2) following the first moment (T1) and separated from said first moment (T1) by an interval of time (dt) determined by adding to the value of the position (x) at the first moment (T1) the product of the speed (v) at the first moment (T1) for the interval of time (dt).