An automatic descent control device (1000, 1300) comprising: a housing (1004, 1302); a shaft (1008, 1304) rotatably supported within the housing (1004, 1302); a line configured to be attached to a load, wherein the line is coupled to the shaft (1008, 1304), and wherein the line retracts within the housing (1004, 1302) and wind about the shaft (1008, 1304) when the line is not loaded and unwinds about the shaft (1008, 1304) when the line is loaded; a first braking system coupled to the shaft (1008, 1304), wherein the first braking system is an eddy current braking system and provides a first braking force to the shaft (1008, 1304) when the line is loaded, wherein the first braking system lowers the load at a first descent rate; a second braking system (1200, 1306) coupled to the shaft (1008, 1304), wherein the second braking system (1200, 1306) is an electromechanical braking system and provides a second braking force to the shaft (1008, 1304) when the line is loaded, wherein the second braking system (1200, 1306) lowers or locks the load at a second descent rate, and wherein the load is a constant, and the first descent rate is greater than the second descent rate; and a controller (1036, 1307) coupled to the second braking system (1200, 1306), wherein the controller (1036, 1307) selectively engages the second braking system (1200, 1306) upon receiving an engagement signal, the second braking system (1200, 1306) independent from the first braking system. a housing (1004, 1302); a shaft (1008, 1304) rotatably supported within the housing (1004, 1302); a line configured to be attached to a load, wherein the line is coupled to the shaft (1008, 1304), and wherein the line retracts within the housing (1004, 1302) and wind about the shaft (1008, 1304) when the line is not loaded and unwinds about the shaft (1008, 1304) when the line is loaded; a first braking system coupled to the shaft (1008, 1304), wherein the first braking system is an eddy current braking system and provides a first braking force to the shaft (1008, 1304) when the line is loaded, wherein the first braking system lowers the load at a first descent rate; a second braking system (1200, 1306) coupled to the shaft (1008, 1304), wherein the second braking system (1200, 1306) is an electromechanical braking system and provides a second braking force to the shaft (1008, 1304) when the line is loaded, wherein the second braking system (1200, 1306) lowers or locks the load at a second descent rate, and wherein the load is a constant, and the first descent rate is greater than the second descent rate; and a controller (1036, 1307) coupled to the second braking system (1200, 1306), wherein the controller (1036, 1307) selectively engages the second braking system (1200, 1306) upon receiving an engagement signal, the second braking system (1200, 1306) independent from the first braking system. a first braking system coupled to the shaft (1008, 1304), wherein the first braking system is an eddy current braking system and provides a first braking force to the shaft (1008, 1304) when the line is loaded, wherein the first braking system lowers the load at a first descent rate; a second braking system (1200, 1306) coupled to the shaft (1008, 1304), wherein the second braking system (1200, 1306) is an electromechanical braking system and provides a second braking force to the shaft (1008, 1304) when the line is loaded, wherein the second braking system (1200, 1306) lowers or locks the load at a second descent rate, and wherein the load is a constant, and the first descent rate is greater than the second descent rate; and a controller (1036, 1307) coupled to the second braking system (1200, 1306), wherein the controller (1036, 1307) selectively engages the second braking system (1200, 1306) upon receiving an engagement signal, the second braking system (1200, 1306) independent from the first braking system.