This paper presents a concept of a feedback control for smart actuators that are compatible with NASA's smart sensors, communication protocols, and overall hierarchical system architecture. The smart actuators are needed in order to embed intelligence, self-learning, and selfdiagnosis into every actuator that is part of a complex system such as a rocket test facility or a spacecraft. The paper provides an overview of the IEEE 1451 standard and presents the smart actuator architecture and control based on this standard. The control system testbed has been developed including the smart actuators with network capable application processors. The proposed structure allows for intelligent actuator control based on data and metadata gathered by a network of smart sensors. © 2007 IEEE.