The brake-by-wire actuator was considered to be the next generation of vehicle brake, which uses cables to transmit signals and energy, and uses electric motor instead of hydraulic element or pneumatic element. This paper designs a new type of brake-by-wire actuator based on the special linear motor. First, the structure, composition and working principle of the linear motor are explained. Secondly, the caliper structure and amplification mechanism of the actuator are designed. Thirdly, the controller and control strategy based on dSPACE platform are introduced in detail. Finally, the electromechanical parameters of actuator were identified, and the experiment of the linear motor and brake-by-wire actuator were completed. The experiment results show that the new actuator has the advantages of fast braking response, low control difficulty and high control accuracy, etc. In conclusion, this paper provides a new design scheme for the brake-by-wire actuator, and has the potential to further research and replace the traditional hydraulic braking system.