Hybrid sensor-enabled electric wheel and associated systems, multi-hub wheel spoking systems, and methods of manufacturing and installing wheel spokes

Abstract

Embodiments of hybrid sensor-enabled and autonomous electric wheels can include a plurality of systems and devices integrated into a single compact hub unit that can be retrofitted into numerous types of two-wheeled bicycles. In one embodiment, an electrically motorized bicycle wheel can include a wheel rim, a wheel hub having an electric motor, a battery pack and a control unit configured to control a drive torque of the electric motor, and a plurality of wheel spokes connecting the wheel rim to the wheel hub. The electric motor, the battery pack and the control unit can be positioned within the wheel hub of the electrically motorized bicycle wheel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for controlling a vehicle adapted to be at least partially powered by a human, the system comprising:
 a control unit connected to the vehicle, the control unit operable to continuously control the vehicle; and   a wireless communication protocol device connected to the vehicle, the wireless communication protocol device operable to wirelessly receive an input from a wireless device remote from the vehicle to be used by the control unit to control the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the wireless device is a smartphone. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the wireless device is mountable to the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the input is based on a user-selected operational mode. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the operational mode includes an energy regeneration mode. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the input is used to determine an amount of assistance or resistance required at any given time to continuously control the vehicle in response to an indication of a force input by the user. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the operational mode is selected from a multiple of operational modes and the multiple of operational modes includes a locked mode. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the control unit configures a motor drive to resist rotation of a motor of the vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the locked mode is operable to trigger an alarm in response to movement of the vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the locked mode is operable to report at least one of a GPS coordinates and a time stamp in response to movement of the vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the report is communicated to the wireless device. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the report is communicated to the wireless device via at least one of an email message and a text message. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the operational mode is selected from a multiple of operational modes and the multiple of operational modes includes an off mode in which no assistance or resistance is supplied to the user. 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the operational mode is selected from a multiple of operational modes and the multiple of operational modes includes a pedal assist mode in which an amount of assistance is supplied in response to an indication of a force input by the user. 
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the amount of assistance is a multiple of the force input. 
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the operational mode is selected from a multiple of operational modes and the multiple of operational modes includes an exercise mode in which the vehicle can provide resistance or assistance in response to an indication of a force input by the user. 
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein an energy storage device connected to the vehicle is charged in response to the indication. 
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the exercise mode provides a multiple of settings which provide a selectable magnitude of resistance or assistance to the user. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the operational mode is selected from a multiple of operational modes and the multiple of operational modes includes a mode in which the vehicle uses only energy that is generated by the vehicle and stored in an energy storage device. 
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the system is controlled so that a total balance of energy generated and energy released is zero. 
     
     
         21 . A method for controlling a vehicle adapted to be at least partially powered by a human, the method comprising:
 wirelessly communicating a data input to the vehicle; and   continuously controlling the vehicle based at least in part on an indication of a force input by a user and the data input.   
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein wirelessly communicating the data input includes communicating control commands based on an operational mode. 
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein wirelessly communicating the data input occurs in response to a user selecting an operational mode from a multiple of operational modes. 
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the force input is a pedaling input. 
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the continuously controlling the vehicle includes controlling an amount of assistance or resistance required at any given time to continuously control the vehicle in response to the indication. 
     
     
         26 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the continuously controlling the vehicle includes operating in an off mode in which no assistance or resistance is supplied in response to the indication. 
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the continuously controlling the vehicle includes operating in an exercise mode in which the vehicle can provide resistance or assistance to the user in response to the indication. 
     
     
         28 . The method as recited in  claim 27 , further comprising charging an energy storage device connected to the vehicle in response to the indication. 
     
     
         29 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the data input includes a setting from a multiple of settings used to determine an amount of assistance or resistance supplied to the user in response to the indication. 
     
     
         30 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the continuously controlling the vehicle includes operating in a mode in which the vehicle uses only energy that is generated by the vehicle and stored in an energy storage device. 
     
     
         31 . The method as recited in  claim 30 , further comprising controlling the system so that a total balance of energy generated and energy released is zero. 
     
     
         32 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the continuously controlling the vehicle is also based in part on at least one of the state of the vehicle and a physical performance of the user. 
     
     
         33 . A method for controlling a vehicle adapted to be at least partially powered by a human, the method comprising:
 wirelessly communicating a user selection of a locked mode to the vehicle; and   configuring a motor drive to enter a state in response to receiving the selection to resist rotation of a motor of the vehicle.   
     
     
         34 . The method as recited in  claim 33 , further comprising triggering an alarm in response to a movement of the vehicle. 
     
     
         35 . The method as recited in  claim 33 , further comprising reporting at least one of GPS coordinates and a time stamp in response to movement of the vehicle. 
     
     
         36 . A system for controlling an electrically motorized wheel for converting a non-motorized vehicle to an electrically motorized vehicle via installation of the electrically motorized wheel, comprising:
 a motor controller mounted to the electrically motorized wheel, the motor controller operable to continuously control the electrically motorized wheel in response to a user input; and   a wireless communication protocol device mounted to the electrically motorized wheel, the wireless communication protocol device operable to wirelessly receive an input from a wireless control system remote from the electrically motorized wheel for communication to the motor controller to control an operational mode of the electrically motorized wheel.