One embodiment is directed to a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism has a housing and a rotary actuator carried by the housing. The rotary actuator includes a shaft and armature disposed around at least a portion of the shaft. The armature is configured to rotate the shaft about a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The locking mechanism also has a cam carried by the shaft and a set of locking balls disposed between the cam and the housing. The locking mechanism has a locking assembly carried by the housing, the locking assembly being axially positionable between a locked position relative to the housing and a released position relative to the housing.