A method and apparatus for a low-profile suspension system, which provides
coarse and fine suspension control to an object supported by the
low-profile suspension system. Coarse suspension is provided to
adaptively control a position of the object through pneumatic support
devices. Pneumatic pressure is adaptively increased in the pneumatic
support devices to support an increasing weight of the object, while
pneumatic pressure is adaptively decreased in the pneumatic support
devices to support a decreasing weight of the object. Fine suspension
control is provided through rotational actuation of a shock absorbing
device through a right-angle gear drive. By rotationally actuating the
shock absorbing device, a range of stroke of the shock absorbing device
along a vertical direction is minimized. Position equalization control is
further provided to maintain a position of the object along an axis that
is orthogonal to the coarse and fine suspension axis.