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, comprising:
 a vehicle adapted to be at least partially powered by a human; and   a wireless communication protocol device connected to the vehicle, the wireless communication protocol device operable to wirelessly communicate data related to the vehicle, a user of the vehicle, or an environment around the vehicle with a device remote from the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the device is a portable wireless device associated with the user of the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the wireless communication protocol device is further configured to receive control data communicated by the portable wireless device. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising an online data collection warehouse configured to communicate with the wireless device. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the wireless device is configured to transmit at least one of the data and information about the user to the online data collection warehouse. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the wireless device is configured to receive information from the online data collection warehouse. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 4  wherein the wireless device is configured to display data communicated to the wireless device by the vehicle or the online data collection warehouse. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the wireless device is configured to analyze the data prior to display. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the device is mountable to the vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the device is an online data collection warehouse. 
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the wireless communication protocol device is configured to receive information from the online data collection warehouse. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to receive data collected by the vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the data is associated with the user of the vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the data is associated with environmental conditions. 
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the data is associated with location and time. 
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the data is associated with a measure of performance of the vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the data collected by the vehicle is used with at least one of caloric output data, power information, and torque information to provide the user with information about their physical performance while riding. 
     
     
         18 . A method for wirelessly communicating with a vehicle adapted to be at least partially powered by a human, the method comprising:
 transmitting, using a wireless communication protocol device connected to the vehicle, at least one of the data and information about the vehicle, a user of the vehicle, or an environment around the vehicle to a device remote from the vehicle; and   receiving the data at the device remote from the vehicle.   
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising communicating the data from the device to an Internet application. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the device is a portable wireless device associated with the user of the vehicle. 
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 20 , further comprising communicating the data from the device via a cellular data network. 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising communicating the data from the device to a third party. 
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the device is an online data collection warehouse. 
     
     
         24 . A method for wirelessly communicating with vehicle adapted to be at least partially powered by a human, the method comprising:
 transmitting data from a device remote from the vehicle and configured to communicate with the vehicle;   receiving the data at the vehicle; and   configuring a parameter of the vehicle based on the data.   
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the device is a portable wireless device associated with a user of the vehicle. 
     
     
         26 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , further comprising communicating the data from the wireless device via a cellular data network. 
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , further comprising transmitting the data from an online data collection warehouse to the device remote from the vehicle. 
     
     
         28 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , further comprising communicating the data from the device to a third party. 
     
     
         29 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the device is an online data collection warehouse. 
     
     
         30 . A system, comprising:
 an electrically motorized wheel for converting a non-motorized vehicle to an electrically motorized vehicle via installation of the electrically motorized wheel; 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.