Force feedback devices using fluid braking

A device, comprising:

• at least a portion of a rod;
• a housing coupled to the portion of said rod and including a crank arm, said crank arm being moveable in a rotary degree of freedom;
• a sensor configured to determine a position of said crank arm in said at least one degree of freedom and output a sensor signal based on data values associated with the position of the crank arm;
• and
• a brake including a fluid having a variable viscosity, the brake being configured to vary the fluid viscosity by adjusting an electromagnetic field in said fluid, the brake configured to apply a resistive force associated with the fluid viscosity to said crank arm, a magnitude of the resistive force being associated with the sensor signal.

A method, comprising:

• sensing a position of a manipulandum in at least one degree of freedom and outputting a sensor signal based on data values associated with said position, said manipulandum being a crank arm of a simulated fishing reel, the simulated fishing reel being coupled to at least a portion of a simulated fishing rod;
• receiving haptic feedback data from a host computer, said haptic feedback data associated with a haptic sensation to be output;
• and
• outputting a resistive force on said manipulandum using a magnetorheological brake, said brake including a magnetorheological fluid having a variable viscosity, a magnitude of the resistive force being associated with the sensor signal;
• modifying the resistive force on the manipulandum, the resistive force being associated with the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid.