System and method for establishing and maintaining resonant oscillations of a torsional hinged device such as a pivotally hinged mirror. The system and methods comprise a permanent magnet mounted to the pivoting mirror that interacts with an electromagnetic coil. The magnetic coil is periodically connected and disconnected from a DC power supply in response to a series of drive pulses having a timing and duration such that the magnetic forces generated by the interaction of the permanent magnet and the electromagnetic coil maintains resonant oscillations of the device.