Abstract: A control apparatus and method for a panel movable between at least two positions by an electric motor having a rotatable armature. The control generates time periods for the rotation of the armature over a constant angular distance. An average time period is computed over a predetermined number of time periods and compared with a threshold time period to determine if an obstacle is present in the path of movement of the closure. Transient counts are accumulated for increasing average time periods over a number of time period samples to detect an obstacle. A compensation factor is used to adjust a threshold upon detecting a start-up transient during an initial movement of the motor armature coupled to the panel to delay activation of obstacle detection until the start-up transient diminishes.