A magnetostrictive sensor, comprising: a sensor head including, a driving pole having a driving coil coupled thereto that is configured to generate magnetic fluxes in response to a driving current; two magnetic sensors (214a, 214b) coupled to respective sensing poles (236a,236b) and each configured to output a first signal based at least upon first magnetic fluxes (Φ 1, Φ' 1) and second magnetic fluxes (Φ 2, Φ' 2) sensed by the two magnetic sensors (214a, 214b), the first sensed magnetic fluxes (Φ 1, Φ' 1) resulting from an interaction of the generated magnetic fluxes with a target, a gap between the sensor head and the target and the two sensing poles (236a, 236b); the second sensed magnetic fluxes (Φ 2, Φ' 2) resulting from an interaction of the generated magnetic fluxes with the gap and the two sensing poles (236a, 236b); a proximity coil coupled to the driving pole that is configured to output a second signal based at least upon the first magnetic fluxes (Φ 1, Φ' 1), the second magnetic fluxes (Φ 2, Φ' 2), and third magnetic fluxes (Φ 3, Φ' 3) sensed by the proximity coil, the third magnetic fluxes (Φ 3, Φ' 3) resulting from an interaction of the generated magnetic fluxes with the gap; and a controller in electrical communication with the sensor head and configured to: receive the first signals and the second signal; determine the gap based upon a net interaction of the first signals and the second signal; determine a force applied to the target from the first signals; and adjust the determined force based upon the gap determined from the first signals and the second signal. a sensor head including, a driving pole having a driving coil coupled thereto that is configured to generate magnetic fluxes in response to a driving current; two magnetic sensors (214a, 214b) coupled to respective sensing poles (236a,236b) and each configured to output a first signal based at least upon first magnetic fluxes (Φ 1, Φ' 1) and second magnetic fluxes (Φ 2, Φ' 2) sensed by the two magnetic sensors (214a, 214b), the first sensed magnetic fluxes (Φ 1, Φ' 1) resulting from an interaction of the generated magnetic fluxes with a target, a gap between the sensor head and the target and the two sensing poles (236a, 236b); the second sensed magnetic fluxes (Φ 2, Φ' 2) resulting from an interaction of the generated magnetic fluxes with the gap and the two sensing poles (236a, 236b); a proximity coil coupled to the driving pole that is configured to output a second signal based at least upon the first magnetic fluxes (Φ 1, Φ' 1), the second magnetic fluxes (Φ 2, Φ' 2), and third magnetic fluxes (Φ 3, Φ' 3) sensed by the proximity coil, the third magnetic fluxes (Φ 3, Φ' 3) resulting from an interaction of the generated magnetic fluxes with the gap; and a controller in electrical communication with the sensor head and configured to: receive the first signals and the second signal; determine the gap based upon a net interaction of the first signals and the second signal; determine a force applied to the target from the first signals; and adjust the determined force based upon the gap determined from the first signals and the second signal. a driving pole having a driving coil coupled thereto that is configured to generate magnetic fluxes in response to a driving current; two magnetic sensors (214a, 214b) coupled to respective sensing poles (236a,236b) and each configured to output a first signal based at least upon first magnetic fluxes (Φ 1, Φ' 1) and second magnetic fluxes (Φ 2, Φ' 2) sensed by the two magnetic sensors (214a, 214b), the first sensed magnetic fluxes (Φ 1, Φ' 1) resulting from an interaction of the generated magnetic fluxes with a target, a gap between the sensor head and the target and the two sensing poles (236a, 236b); the second sensed magnetic fluxes (Φ 2, Φ' 2) resulting from an interaction of the generated magnetic fluxes with the gap and the two sensing poles (236a, 236b); a proximity coil coupled to the driving pole that is configured to output a second signal based at least upon the first magnetic fluxes (Φ 1, Φ' 1), the second magnetic fluxes (Φ 2, Φ' 2), and third magnetic fluxes (Φ 3, Φ' 3) sensed by the proximity coil, the third magnetic fluxes (Φ 3, Φ' 3) resulting from an interaction of the generated magnetic fluxes with the gap; and a controller in electrical communication with the sensor head and configured to: receive the first signals and the second signal; determine the gap based upon a net interaction of the first signals and the second signal; determine a force applied to the target from the first signals; and adjust the determined force based upon the gap determined from the first signals and the second signal. receive the first signals and the second signal; determine the gap based upon a net interaction of the first signals and the second signal; determine a force applied to the target from the first signals; and adjust the determined force based upon the gap determined from the first signals and the second signal.