A gear drive assembly (33) includes a housing (24), an external base (28) movable with respect to the housing, and an external gear member (12) associated with the external base. The assembly includes an internal gear member (14) surrounded by the external gear member and in meshing relation therewith. The assembly also includes a plurality of conductive polymer actuators (26) defining actuator sets. Each actuator set is coupled at one portion thereof to the housing with another portion thereof being coupled to the external base. Each actuator is constructed and arranged to deflect when voltage is applied thereto such that when voltage is selectively applied to the actuator sets, deflection of the actuators causes the external base to move causing the external gear member to move in an orbiting manner with respect to the internal gear member.