An apparatus for locking a gear set, wherein the apparatus is configured to be forward-driven at an input in either of a first direction and a second direction and for substantially preventing an output from being back-driven in either of the first direction and the second direction, the apparatus comprising: one or more gears of the gear set engaged with the input and configured for forward-driven motion by the input in the first direction and the second direction; a carrier coupled to the output and to the one or more gears, one or more differentiating connectors coupled to respective ones of the gears, and one or more unidirectional engage/disengage components (118, 119) configured to permit forward-driven movement of the one or more gears and to prevent back-driven movement of the one or more gears; characterized by: wherein the carrier includes one or more carrier slots, wherein each of the one or more carrier slots is elongated and has a first end and a second end; wherein each of the differentiating connectors is retained in a respective one of the carrier slots and arranged to move between the first end and the second end of the carrier slots; and wherein each differentiating connector is arranged to permit forward-driven movement in the first direction and to prevent back-driven movement of its respective gear when at or near the first end of its slot and to permit forward-driven movement in the second direction and to prevent back-driven movement of its respective gear when at or near the second end of its slot. one or more gears of the gear set engaged with the input and configured for forward-driven motion by the input in the first direction and the second direction; a carrier coupled to the output and to the one or more gears, one or more differentiating connectors coupled to respective ones of the gears, and one or more unidirectional engage/disengage components (118, 119) configured to permit forward-driven movement of the one or more gears and to prevent back-driven movement of the one or more gears; characterized by: wherein the carrier includes one or more carrier slots, wherein each of the one or more carrier slots is elongated and has a first end and a second end; wherein each of the differentiating connectors is retained in a respective one of the carrier slots and arranged to move between the first end and the second end of the carrier slots; and wherein each differentiating connector is arranged to permit forward-driven movement in the first direction and to prevent back-driven movement of its respective gear when at or near the first end of its slot and to permit forward-driven movement in the second direction and to prevent back-driven movement of its respective gear when at or near the second end of its slot. wherein the carrier includes one or more carrier slots, wherein each of the one or more carrier slots is elongated and has a first end and a second end; wherein each of the differentiating connectors is retained in a respective one of the carrier slots and arranged to move between the first end and the second end of the carrier slots; and wherein each differentiating connector is arranged to permit forward-driven movement in the first direction and to prevent back-driven movement of its respective gear when at or near the first end of its slot and to permit forward-driven movement in the second direction and to prevent back-driven movement of its respective gear when at or near the second end of its slot.