Position Transmission Control in Tendon–Sheath Mechanisms: A Critical Review and a Promising Solution

Owing to their high power‐to‐weight ratio and inherent flexibility, tendon–sheath mechanisms (TSMs) have been extensively adopted in robotic systems that demand compact designs and adaptability to complex environments. However, nonlinear friction between the tendon and the sheath inevitably induces tendon‐elongation and backlash‐like hysteresis, making accurate position transmission control in TSMs highly challenging. This short communication critically reviews representative strategies developed to address this issue, identifying their limitations in meeting the practical demands of TSM‐driven robotic systems. Based on experimental findings, we further propose a promising solution that simultaneously fulfills the requirements of compactness and adaptability. This work offers direct and valuable insights into the fundamental limitations of existing strategies for TSM position transmission control, whereas the proposed remedial solution demonstrates considerable potential for broad application across various TSM‐driven robotic systems.