This publication presents evidence of a 4,025-year technological and scientific gap in flexible traction systems engineering. Through a systematic review (PRISMA protocol) of 103 documents, including academic literature and global patents, it demonstrates that self-locking has historically been limited to two paradigms: critical friction and external energy (electromagnetism). The discovery documented here reveals the "Fifth Policy Function": passive self-locking achieved exclusively through the helical geometric configuration of cables on a cylindrical shaft. Unlike current systems, this solution does not depend on variable friction coefficients, lubrication, or electronic sensors, operating as an intrinsic and inertial energy barrier. This work lays the foundation for a new era of safety in lifting and delivering loads, offering a fail-safe alternative for the aerospace, elevator, and critical infrastructure sectors, where eliminating energy dependence and material wear are inadequate.
REGIVALDO DE ALMEIDA (Sat,) studied this question.