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Comment by FlyKly | Hacker News Reader

A GPS module is of course also located on the Smart Wheel itself so it sends a signal on its own once the motion sensors (that turn on only after you lock it) notice it's moving without your knowledge.

The top speed means exactly that - because the Smart Wheel is a pedal assist this means it helps you accelerate until you reach 20 mph and no further. You're correct in stating that the top speed is also set in accordance to the US Law (or European Law, which allows for speeds up to 25 km/h).

We're sorry about the confusion about "the first line of electric bicycles" - this was of course meant to inform the reader about the first line of e-bikes that we're introduced by FlyKly, not the first e-bikes EVER.

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Parent is asking how the wheel can notify the phone that the bike is moving if the phone is currently out of bluetooth range to the wheel

"A GPS module is of course also located on the Smart Wheel itself so it sends a signal on its own once the motion sensors (that turn on only after you lock it) notice it's moving without your knowledge."

Sends a signal to what? If you're a few feet away I don't think you'd be worried about a theft.

So if you're within a few feet of your bike when someone takes it, it will notify you? And it will track the bike for a few seconds as it goes out of range?

Your KickStarter calls this "located and tracked" without caveats. That's pretty misleading.

That doesn't make sense. GPS is not a transmitter. Will you include an embedded 3G SIM card (like a Kindle)? I'm not sure how you will get the GPS coordinates to the smartphone 10 miles away.

...the motion sensors (that turn on only after you lock it) notice it's moving without your knowledge.

Is there any reason that "locking" doesn't render the device immobile? I realize someone could still carry it off, but most thieves would be more reluctant to steal a device they have to take apart and hack before using, than one they can literally just ride away.

I assumed they meant the bike is being geographically displaced and that yes the wheel mechanism would be locked. For example if you pick up the back wheel and push the cycle on the front one only.

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