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 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 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 . <EOS>