A linear motor actuator comprising: a plurality of stators mounted stationary relative to one another along a common actuation axis; and a translator rod in operable communication with the plurality of stators configured to move relative to the plurality of stators along the actuation axis, each of the plurality of stators being magnetically coupled to the translator rod to redundantly drive motion of the translator rod along the actuation axis, and wherein all of the stators are positioned axially along the axial length of the translator rod and wherein each stator is operably connected to a respective control module; wherein each of the plurality of stators includes a plurality of phase windings (106, 108, 110) that are connected to a respective control module; wherein the translator rod includes a plurality of permanent magnets stacked along the actuation axis; wherein each stator is operatively connected to a respective position sensor; wherein each stator forms an independent, redundant control loop with its respective position sensor and respective control module; characterised in that: the control modules are configured to force balance the stators by slaving a plurality of the stators as slave stators to one of the stators as a master stator to coordinate and avoid competing impulses from the stators on the translator rod; the control modules are configured to detect going offline of the master stator and to reconfigure one of the slave stators as a new master stator in the event of the master stator going off line; and all stators conform to the position reading of the master stator. a plurality of stators mounted stationary relative to one another along a common actuation axis; and a translator rod in operable communication with the plurality of stators configured to move relative to the plurality of stators along the actuation axis, each of the plurality of stators being magnetically coupled to the translator rod to redundantly drive motion of the translator rod along the actuation axis, and wherein all of the stators are positioned axially along the axial length of the translator rod and wherein each stator is operably connected to a respective control module; wherein each of the plurality of stators includes a plurality of phase windings (106, 108, 110) that are connected to a respective control module; wherein the translator rod includes a plurality of permanent magnets stacked along the actuation axis; wherein each stator is operatively connected to a respective position sensor; wherein each stator forms an independent, redundant control loop with its respective position sensor and respective control module; characterised in that: the control modules are configured to force balance the stators by slaving a plurality of the stators as slave stators to one of the stators as a master stator to coordinate and avoid competing impulses from the stators on the translator rod; the control modules are configured to detect going offline of the master stator and to reconfigure one of the slave stators as a new master stator in the event of the master stator going off line; and all stators conform to the position reading of the master stator.