A protection device for traversing a guide member and method of making the like, the protection device includes a wheel configured to engage the guide member. In some embodiments, the protection embodiment includes a locker configured to engage a braking surface. The locker engagement mechanism configured to releasably engage the locker. In some embodiments, a centrifugal actuator operatively coupled to the wheel and configured to actuate the locker engagement mechanism to release the locker based on a threshold speed of the wheel. In an instance in which the wheel is rotating at or above the threshold speed of the wheel in a first direction, the centrifugal actuator is configured to actuate and rotate the locker engagement mechanism to release the locker and to allow the locker to rotate and engage the braking surface. A corresponding method of operation is also provided.

A braking device comprising a body mounted for rotation about a first axis; means for rotating the body about the first axis; comprises a second axis, a third axis and a fourth axis, the braking device being configured as to enable the body to further rotate about the second axis and the third axis, the first axis being oriented with respect to the second axis at an alpha angle () which is greater than 0 degrees, the second axis being oriented with respect to the fourth axis at a beta angle () which is greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees, the third axis being the precession axis about which the precession of the body occurs as a result of rotating the body about the first axis and applying torque to the body about the second axis.

A braking device comprising a body mounted for rotation about a first axis; means for rotating the body about the first axis; comprises a second axis, a third axis and a fourth axis, the braking device being configured as to enable the body to further rotate about the second axis and the third axis, the first axis being oriented with respect to the second axis at an alpha angle () which is greater than 0 degrees, the second axis being oriented with respect to the fourth axis at a beta angle () which is greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees, the third axis being the precession axis about which the precession of the body occurs as a result of rotating the body about the first axis and applying torque to the body about the second axis.

A method is for operating a braking system including a primary braking actuator having a first control apparatus. The primary braking actuator is operated based on a first braking specification. The braking system further includes a secondary braking actuator having a second control apparatus. The first control apparatus and the second control apparatus and/or a further control apparatus are connected to one another by a communication device. The second control apparatus and/or the further control apparatus checks whether signals from the first control apparatus are received in the second control apparatus and/or the further control apparatus, or whether the signals received from the first control apparatus in the second control apparatus and/or the further control apparatus are faulty. When there are no received signals or when there are faulty signals, operation of the secondary braking actuator is enabled or prevented based on a second braking specification.