Abstract: An electronic ratchet for allowing the application of mechanical resistance to an output shaft in one direction while ratcheting in the opposite direction, which comprises, in combination:(a) an electromagnetically controlled friction brake coupled to an output shaft;(b) provision for controlling the application of DC voltage across the electromagnet, regardless of the direction of rotation;(c) a switch for selectively applying such voltage to obtain resistance to clockwise, counter clockwise, or both directions of rotation;(d) an incremental shaft encoder coupled to the output shaft for determining the direction of shaft rotation;(e) a decoder for decoding the direction of shaft rotation; and(f) an armature through which the output shaft is inserted, the shaft and armature being held as a single rotating unit by opposing keys on the output shaft and the keyways being characterized by a degree of free play equal to the sensitivity of the shaft encoder, whereby the direction of shaft revolution can be determin