Dynamic vehicle suspension system including electronically commutated motor

A suspension system for controlling the relative position of a vehicle and a wheel assembly supporting the vehicle for travel over a surface of terrain. The system includes a member for resiliently connecting the vehicle and the wheel assembly to establish an equilibrium position therebetween in which the vehicle is supported in a predetermined position with respect to the surface of the terrain. The system further includes a dynamoelectric machine comprising a stationary assembly and a rotatable assembly magnetically coupled thereto, the stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages adapted to be electrically energized to apply an electromagnetic field to said rotatable assembly thereby to rotatably drive the rotatable assembly about an axis. A ball screw translates rotation of the rotatable assembly driven by the stationary assembly into linear motion between the wheel assembly and the vehicle. A control energizes the winding stages in response to deviations of the vehicle from its predetermined position whereby the vehicle is substantially maintained at its predetermined position as the vehicle travels over the surface of the terrain.