Patent ID: 8739938

Claim:
A braking system for retarding rotation of a wheel, comprising: an energy storage device; a rotor configured to synchronously rotate with the wheel; an actuator configured to generate an actuator force; a brake component having a wearable friction segment, wherein the friction segment includes a thickness and is configured to be pressed into contact with the rotor by the actuator force for retarding rotation of the wheel; a sending unit in electric communication with the energy storage device, arranged relative to the braking component; and a first resistive sensor having an electric resistance and a feature determinative of the electric resistance; wherein: the first resistive sensor is configured as an ink film applied directly onto the friction segment; the first resistive sensor is in electric communication with the sending unit; the sending unit is configured to transmit a signal indicative of the electric resistance of the first resistive sensor; and the feature is configured to wear along with the friction segment, thereby increasing the electric resistance of the first resistive sensor.