Hi there, I’m trying to automate my car clutch pedal like this -> (https://manualcontrols.weebly.com/final-prototype.html).
I can’t filter the linear actuators in the store for speed. I’m looking for something that can move 4 inches and at 9inches/sec or higher under a load of about 30lbs.
Also I’m looking for a mechanism that can adjust the speed of the actuator and the length that it extends. For example, if I push the toggle all the way up, the actuator should extend 4 inches, and as I slowly toggle it down, the actuator should move relative to the speed of my toggle and
Hi @mhudson13
That is such an innovative project. I would love to see how it turns out! 
With the specs you provided I was able to find this actuator https://www.robotshop.com/en/4-in-stroke-high-speed-linear-actuator.html it has a 4" stroke, 9"/sec speed and a force of 22 lbs, if you need even more force you could use two of them in parallel (which, according to the images of the project, seems to be what they did). Also as this actuator doesn’t provide potentiometer feedback you might want to consider using a linear potentiometer like this one https://www.robotshop.com/en/firgelli-automations-linear-potentiometer-10-inch.html that will allow you to read the position of the actuator and with this information, you can have precise positional control of the clutch by using a PI/PID control loop.
Finally, for the mechanism to adjust the length of the actuator you could use a joystick, like these https://www.robotshop.com/en/catalogsearch/result/index/?cat=3&dir=desc&order=relevance&q=joystick or a slide potentiometer https://www.robotshop.com/en/catalogsearch/result/?q=slide+pot&order=relevance&dir=desc. Between those two the joystick would probably be the best option for this application but any of them should work.
I hope this information can help you out 
If you have any more questions feel free to ask
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