This study has designed a set of motor operating devices for a 126 kV vacuum circuit breaker (VCB) to improve its reliability and controllability. A finite‐angle permanent magnet brushless motor (FAPMBM) with a multi‐slot stator structure and a dovetail rotor structure has been designed based on the torque and speed requirements of the motor. These requirements were determined by a dynamic analysis of the operating device and its short‐time, finite‐angle working characteristics. The work performance of the prototype motor has been evaluated in an online experiment with a 126 kV VCB, and based on this, a segmented control method has been designed. The motion process of the operating device has been divided into four stages in combination with the output torque demand of the driving motor. At each stage, the output torque of the motor has been changed dynamically to prevent contact collision, shorten the pre‐breakdown time, and make the circuit breaker work more reliably. The results show that the FAPMBM can meet the operating time and speed requirements of the interrupter for the operating device. In addition, the segmented control method improves the work reliability and optimizes the movement of the operating device, which helps the circuit breaker work intelligently. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.