Patent ID: 8602176

Claim:
A braking apparatus comprising: a hub interface component having outer surface configured to engage an inner surface of a wheel hub and comprising a bearing groove within an inner portion of the hub interface component, the bearing groove configured to allow a ball bearing to move within the bearing groove between a first barrier at a first end of the bearing groove and a second barrier at a second end of the bearing groove; a non-rotating component comprising a bearing wall, the hub interface component configured to rotate relative to the non-rotating component unless the braking apparatus is in a braking configuration and the ball bearing is in a braking position where the ball bearing is positioned between the bearing wall and either one of the first barrier or the second barrier; a bearing release mechanism configured to release the ball bearing from a non-braking position and allow the ball bearing to travel to the bearing groove; and electronics configured to actuate the release mechanism to release the ball bearing in response to detection of a wireless signal.