Abstract: A sampled data servo positioning system employs an actuator to move a member between a current and a target position. Incremental position feedback is provided only at sampling times. The system employs a model responsive to a velocity related input signal to produce a continually available model incremental position signal. Phase comparing means indicates phase differences between the model and sampled position signals at the sampling times.The system has two operational configurations in the first of which a source of saturation control signals is connected to the actuator to cause maximum acceleration or deceleration thereof. In this first configuration, the model is forced to track the actuator motion by means of feedforward plus feedback control. The feedforward signal represents actuator performance while the feedback signal is the position signal phase difference.