A linear actuator is disclosed, that comprises a stator containing more than one coil, a mover containing more than one magnet, each said magnet separated from the adjacent magnet by a spacer, a power supply operable to provide current to said coils of said stator, at least one magnetic flux sensor, and a controller operable to control the relative motion between said stator and said mover, the controller comprising a module to measure the magnetic flux observed by the sensor and use that as feedback to control the motion of the mover relative to the stator. In a preferred embodiment, this linear actuator is used in a sexual appliance with user control over the linear actuator motion profiles.