Electromechanical actuator with operational sensors

A method of using an electromechanical actuator (EMA) comprising a stationary body portion, a movable body portion, an actuation element, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor disposed on the actuation element, a first interface component and a second interface component, both the first and second interface component being disposed at an interface between the stationary body portion and the movable body portion,

• the method comprising:
• sending a first signal component at a first frequency to the first interface component;
• transmitting the first signal component from the first interface component to the SAW sensor through a second interface component, so as to cause the SAW sensor to produce surface acoustic waves and return a signal indicative of a property of the actuation element to the first interface component;
• sending a second signal component at a second frequency to the first interface component;
• and
• determining a position of the second interface component relative to the first interface component based on an inductive interaction between the first interface component and the second interface component due to the first and second signal components.