Abstract: Method for estimating the position and the speed of an actuator body in an electromagnetic actuator for controlling a valve of an engine, according to which, starting from a known value for the position and a first moment, a value is calculated at the first moment of the magnetic flux passing through a magnetic circuit constituted by an electromagnet and by the actuator body, the value for the speed at the first moment is estimated as a function of the magnetic flux and the position at the first moment, and the value is calculated at a second moment following the first moment and separated from said first moment by an interval of time determined by adding to the value of the position at the first moment the product of the speed at the first moment for the interval of time.

Abstract: Method for estimating the magnetisation curve of an electromagnetic actuator for controlling an engine valve, according to which a solenoid is activated by a current determined in order to attract an actuator body and place the actuator body in contact with the solenoid; the current is gradually reduced until the actuator body detaches from the solenoid and the corresponding values assumed by the magnetic flow crossing a magnetic circuit consisting of the solenoid and the actuator body are determined for at least some of the current values.