Abstract: In a servo controlled device such as a disk drive actuator or a robot that is driven by a DC motor and must seek from one position to another position and settle at the target position in a minimum time, a deadbeat control response can effect settling in a minimum number of servo sample times with no steady state error and no ripple between sampling instants. The device design, initial conditions entering the deadbeat controlled mode and the frequency of servo samples can be used to enable deadbeat control by limiting the control current to a value that will not saturate the motor coil or exceed the linear operating range of the controlled device.