WHEEL HUB

1 - 12 . (canceled)

13 . A wheel end for a vehicle, the wheel end comprising:

a housing having an inboard end for being positioned proximate the vehicle and an outboard end opposite the inboard end;

the housing having a central opening extending between the inboard and outboard ends for receiving a spindle of the vehicle;

a wheel mounting portion of the housing to have a wheel secured thereto;

a bearing in the central opening of the housing to rotatably connect the housing to the vehicle spindle;

a sensor node mounted to the housing external to the central opening and inboard of the outboard end of the housing for rotating with the housing, the sensor node comprising:

a vibration sensor configured to detect a vibration of the wheel end; and

communication circuitry operatively connected to the vibration sensor, the communication circuitry operable to wirelessly communicate data indicative of the vibration to an external device, the data configured to facilitate a determination of a condition of the wheel end based at least in part upon the vibration.

14 . The wheel end of claim 13 wherein the vibration sensor is configured to detect the vibration of the wheel end including detecting a vibration of the housing;

wherein the condition of the wheel end includes bearing damage; and

wherein the communication circuitry is operable to wirelessly communicate data to the external device including data configured to facilitate the determination of bearing damage based at least in part upon the vibration of the housing.

15 . The wheel end of claim 14 in combination with the external device, the external device configured to determine the bearing damage based at least in part upon a magnitude of the vibration.

16 . The wheel end of claim 14 in combination with the external device, the external device configured to determine the bearing damage based at least in part upon a magnitude of the vibration at a specific frequency corresponding to a frequency multiplier of the bearing.

17 . The wheel end of claim 13 further comprising a brake component connected to the housing and rotatable therewith;

wherein the vibration sensor is configured to detect the vibration of the wheel end including a vibration of the brake component;

wherein the condition of the wheel end includes an irregularity of the brake component; and

wherein the communication circuitry is operable to wirelessly communicate data to the external device including data configured to facilitate the determination of the irregularity of the brake component based at least in part on the vibration of the wheel end.

18 . The wheel end of claim 17 wherein the brake component comprises a brake rotor mounted to the housing.

19 . The wheel end of claim 13 wherein the vibration sensor is configured to detect the vibration of the wheel end including a vibration of a tire of the wheel;

wherein the condition of the wheel end includes a condition of the tire; and

wherein the communication circuitry is operable to wirelessly communicate data to the external device including data configured to facilitate the determination of the condition of the tire based at least in part upon the vibration of the tire.

20 . The wheel end of claim 19 wherein the condition of the tire includes tire damage.

21 . The wheel end of claim 19 wherein the condition of the tire includes tire imbalance.

22 . The wheel end of claim 13 wherein the vibration sensor comprises:

an accelerometer;

a gyroscope; or

an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

23 . The wheel end of claim 13 in combination with the external device, the external device configured to determine the condition of the wheel end based at least in part upon a comparison of the vibration and a vibration of another wheel hub of the vehicle.

24 . The wheel end of claim 13 wherein the communication circuitry is operable to communicate the data to the external device via a base station of the vehicle.

25 . The wheel end of claim 13 in combination with the external device, the external device comprising a base station of the vehicle; and

wherein the base station is configured to relay the data to a vehicle-based computer and/or a server computer.

26 . The wheel end of claim 13 further comprising a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature external to the central opening of the housing; and

wherein the communication circuitry is operable to wirelessly communicate data to the external device including data indicative of the temperature, the data configured to facilitate a determination of the wheel end condition based at least in part upon the vibration and the temperature.

27 . The wheel end of claim 26 in combination with the external device;

wherein the condition comprises bearing damage; and

wherein the external device is configured to determine bearing damage based at least in part upon the vibration and the temperature.

28 . The wheel end of claim 26 in combination with the external device, the external device configured to determine the condition of the wheel end based at least in part upon the vibration and a comparison of the temperature and an ambient air temperature.

29 . The wheel end of claim 26 in combination with the external device, the external device configured to determine the condition of the wheel end based at least in part upon the vibration and a comparison of the temperature and a temperature of another wheel hub of the vehicle.

30 . The wheel end of claim 13 wherein the housing comprises a radially inner surface defining at least a portion of the central opening and a radially outer surface opposite the radially inner surface; and

wherein the sensor node is mounted to the radially outer surface of the housing.

31 . The wheel end of claim 13 wherein the housing is rotatable about a central axis; and

wherein the sensor node overlaps the bearing in a radial direction.

32 . The wheel end of claim 31 wherein the sensor node comprises a battery to provide electrical power to the sensor and the communication circuitry.