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A motorized vehicle having a distributed motor system, i.e. having a plurality of electric drive motors (12) each coupled to a respective traction wheel (10a), all under the control of a controller (13). All or only some of the wheels may be traction wheels (10a), and each traction wheel (10a) may a

A motorized vehicle having a distributed motor system, i.e. having a plurality of electric drive motors (12) each coupled to a respective traction wheel (10a), all under the control of a controller (13). All or only some of the wheels may be traction wheels (10a), and each traction wheel (10a) may also have a steering motor (21a), and each may even also have a wheel positioning motor (27) for repositioning the wheel relative to the chassis (10c), e.g. during a turn. Each electric drive motor (12), steering motor (21a) and wheel positioning motor (27) may be integrated into a wheel manipulator element (31), with all wheel manipulator elements (31) operative according to signals received from the controller (13) and using power provided via the controller (13). Each wheel manipulator element (31) typically provides the controller (13) with signals indicating the motion of the respective wheel (10a).

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1. A motor vehicle having a plurality of traction wheels (10a) and a plurality of steerable wheels (10b) suitable for travel along a roadway, the motor vehicle characterized in that it comprises:a distributed motor system comprising a plurality of electric drive motors (12) each coupled to a respect

1. A motor vehicle having a plurality of traction wheels (10a) and a plurality of steerable wheels (10b) suitable for travel along a roadway, the motor vehicle characterized in that it comprises:a distributed motor system comprising a plurality of electric drive motors (12) each coupled to a respective traction wheel (10a), each responsive to a respective drive power; a controller (13), responsive to a signal indicating a desired speed or a desired change to or from a reverse direction of travel, further responsive to a source of electrical power, and further responsive to a tachometer signal indicating a rotational speed of a wheel (10a 10b) or of one of the electric drive motors (12), for providing the respective drive power for each of the plurality of electric drive motors (12) so as to control the speed of the motor vehicle according to the signal indicating a desired speed or a desired change to or from a reverse direction of travel; and means for controllably repositioning at least one of the wheels (10a 10b) closer to or farther from at least one of the other wheels (10a 10b); wherein at least one electric drive motor (12) is included in a motor box (12a) also including a gear box (11a) coupled to a respective traction wheel (10a), wherein the motor box (12a) is shock-mounted to the vehicle. 2. The motor vehicle of claim 1, further comprising at least one steering motor (21a), and wherein the controller (13) is further responsive to a signal indicating a desired change in direction of travel of the vehicle, and provides corresponding steering power for the at least one steering motor (21a).3. The motor vehicle of claim 2, wherein the controller (13) comprises:a speed control computer (25a), responsive to the signal indicating a desired change in speed or a desired change to or from a reverse direction of travel, responsive to the source of electrical power, and further responsive to the tachometer signal indicating a rotational speed of at least one of the traction wheels (10a) or at least one of the steerable wheels (10b), for providing the respective drive power for each of the plurality of electric drive motors (12), and for providing a tap of the electrical power for use as steering power; and a turning computer (25b), responsive to the tap of the electrical power, responsive to the tachometer signal indicating a rotational speed of at least one of the traction wheels (10a) or at least one of the steerable wheels (10b), and further responsive to the signal indicating a desired change in direction of travel of the vehicle, for providing the corresponding steering power. 4. The motor vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:a speed control interface (13a), responsive to a speed control input by an operator of the motor vehicle indicating a desired change in speed or a desired change to or from reverse, for providing the signal indicating a desired change in speed or a desired change to or from a reverse direction of travel; and a turn interface (13b), responsive to a turning input by an operator of the motor vehicle indicating a desired change in the orientation of any turnable wheels of the vehicle, for providing the signal indicating a desired change in direction of travel of the vehicle. 5. A motor vehicle as in claim 1, wherein the vehicle is either a type of vehicle having a frame and a body or is a uni-body type of vehicle having only a body, and further wherein the motor box (12a) is shock-mounted to either the frame (10c) of the vehicle or to the body of the vehicle in case of a uni-body vehicle.6. The motor vehicle of claim 5, wherein at least one of the electric drive motors (12) has windings made of material in a superconducting state.7. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein for at least one of the traction wheels (10a) the coupling of the electric drive motors (12) to the traction wheels (10a) includes a bull gear (22) integral with the traction wheel (10a) suitable for coupling with a primary drive gear (11) of the respective electric drive motor (12).8. The motor vehicle of claim 7, wherein the traction wheel has a rim portion and the bull gear (22) is disposed at the periphery of the rim and oriented toward the center of the traction wheel (10a).9. The motor vehicle of claim 8, wherein the primary drive gear (11) is offset from the center of the traction wheel (10a) so as to provide a gear reduction.10. The motor vehicle of claim 7, wherein the bull gear and traction wheel are primarily constructed as a single piece.11. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electric drive motors (12) are integral with wheel mounts for the respective traction wheels (10a).12. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least some of the wheels (10a 10b) of the vehicle are turnably mounted to the vehicle, and, in addition, at least some of the wheels (10a 10b) of the vehicle are mounted so as to be movable from one position to another relative to the vehicle, and the vehicle further comprises means (27) for moving at least some of the wheels (10a 10b).13. A motor vehicle as in claim 1, wherein at least one electric drive motor (12) is a pancake type of electric drive motor embedded in one of the traction wheels (10a) and coupled to the frame (10c) of the motor vehicle so as to be able to apply torque to the traction wheel (10a).14. A motor vehicle as in claim 1, wherein the tachometer signal is provided by a shaft encoder.15. A motor vehicle having a plurality of traction wheels (10a) and a plurality of steerable wheels (10b) suitable for travel along a roadway, comprising:a distributed motor system comprising a plurality of electric drive motors (12) each coupled to a respective traction wheel (10a), each responsive to a respective drive power, wherein at least some of the wheels are turnably mounted to the vehicle; a controller (13), for providing the respective drive power for each of the plurality of electric drive motors (12) so as to control the speed of the motor vehicle; and means (27) for controllably repositioning at least one of the wheels (10a 10b) closer to or farther away from at least one of the other wheels (10a 10b); thereby providing that at least some of the wheels (10b) are turnable and also that at least one of the wheels (10a 10b) is repositionable relative to the vehicle.