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 data collection system, comprising:
 a data collection warehouse in communication with a vehicle adapted to be at least partially powered by a human, the data collection warehouse operable to collect data related to at least one of a user, the vehicle, and an environment around the vehicle from the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The data collection system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the data from the vehicle is communicated wirelessly to the data collection warehouse. 
     
     
         3 . The data collection system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the data is communicated via a wireless telecommunications system in the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The data collection system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the data from the vehicle is stored on board the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The data collection system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the data includes at least one of a location, a temperature, a measure of humidity, a gas analysis, a particulate measure, a traffic pattern, and a noise level. 
     
     
         6 . The data collection system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the location is provided by a global positioning system. 
     
     
         7 . The data collection system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the data from the vehicle is processed by the data collection warehouse. 
     
     
         8 . The data collection system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the data collection warehouse is configured to provide the data overlaid onto at least one of a street map, a land use map, and an open space map. 
     
     
         9 . The data collection system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the data collection warehouse is configured to provide an overview of the data by overlaying the data onto a map. 
     
     
         10 . The data collection system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the data collection warehouse is configured to provide a prediction of future conditions by overlaying the data onto a map. 
     
     
         11 . The data collection system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the data can be displayed to the user. 
     
     
         12 . The data collection system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the data includes at least one of historical and real-time information about a physical performance of the user while riding. 
     
     
         13 . The data collection system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the data associated with the user includes caloric output data. 
     
     
         14 . The data collection system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the online data collection warehouse is accessible by a third party. 
     
     
         15 . The data collection system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the data communication warehouse is configured to communicate with the vehicle via a wireless device that is associated with the user and configured to communicate with both the vehicle and the data collection warehouse. 
     
     
         16 . A method to collect data, comprising:
 receiving data transmitted by a vehicle adapted to be at least partially powered by a human at an online data collection warehouse, wherein the data is related to at least one of a user, the vehicle, and an environment around the vehicle.   
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising communicating aggregated data to the vehicle, wherein the aggregated data is formed from data received from at least one vehicle adapted to be at least partially powered by a human. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising processing the data from the vehicle adapted to be at least partially powered by a human. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising overlaying the data onto a map. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the data overlaid on the map provides a map of an environmental condition. 
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein a current set of the environmental conditions is presented to the user. 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the data overlaid on the map provides historical data of past environmental conditions. 
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the data overlaid on the map provides a prediction of future environmental conditions. 
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the data can be displayed to the user. 
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the data includes at least one of historical and real-time information about a physical performance of the user while riding. 
     
     
         26 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the data associated with the user includes caloric output data. 
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the online data collection warehouse is accessible by a third party. 
     
     
         28 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving the data transmitted by the vehicle at a portable wireless device that is associated with the user and configured to communicate with both the vehicle and the online data collection warehouse; and   transmitting the data from the wireless device to the online data collection warehouse.   
     
     
         29 . A data collection system, comprising:
 an electrically motorized wheel to convert a non-motorized wheeled vehicle to an electrically motorized wheeled vehicle via installation of the electrically motorized wheel, the electrically motorized wheel comprising:
 a sensor connected to the electrically motorized wheel, the sensor operable to collect data; and 
 a wireless communication protocol device connected to the electrically motorized wheel, the wireless communication protocol device in communication with the sensor to wirelessly communicate the data; and 
   a data collection warehouse in communication with the electrically motorized wheel, the data collection warehouse operable to collect data related to at least one of a user, the electrically motorized wheel, and an environment around the electrically motorized wheel from the electrically motorized wheel.