Intuitively we'd describe the curve of a helix like $$\gamma(t) = \left(\begin{array}{cc}x\\ y\\ z\ \end{array}\right) = \left(\begin{array}{cc}R\,\cos(t)\\ R\,\sin(t)\\\ t\end{array}\right)$$ This should be the cartesian parametrisation. However it looks exactly the same like in cartesian coordinates.
Can a distinction between both been made?
Cylindrical parametrisation $$ \gamma(t) = \left(\begin{array}{cc}r\\ \phi\\ z\ \end{array}\right) = \left(\begin{array}{cc}R \\ t\\ t\end{array}\right) $$