A low power self-organizing network is made up of a plurality of wireless
communication nodes communicating wirelessly with each other. The nodes
each have a sensor providing a respective sensor data value indicative of
a physical parameter in the environment of that node. The wireless
network discontinues communication with any nodes in which the sensor
data value is outside a range of network sensor data values. The network
is preferably a group of vehicles moving together, especially a train in
which each node is associated with a respective wheel of a railroad car.
The nodes are low-power devices that communicate using wireless
communications according to a Zigbee protocol. The nodes each have an
additional sensor sensing a physical parameter the respective wheel
thereof and determines from said electrical signal a degree of
degradation of a bearing of the wheel, and transmits data of the degree
of degradation to the main node. The main node communicates with another
computer system using a higher power communication system and transmits
thereto data indicative of degradation of said bearings.