This jamming gripper style is the easiest we’ve seen so far. It utilizes a syringe to produce the suction needed for the orange appendage to grip an object.
As with previous offerings this utilizes coffee grounds inside of a balloon. When pressed against an item the grounds flow around it. When a vacuum is used to the balloon those grounds are locked in place, jamming themselves around the product for a firm grip. about a year back we saw a hardware-store grade style which utilized a vacuum pump for suction as well as a shower head as the gripper body. this time around around the plastic syringe serves as both.
The plastic idea was cut away as well as the resulting hole covered with a fabric to keep the coffee in place. After installing the coffee-filled balloon the grip can be operated by pulling the plunger to lock the grounds in place. It’s not going to be as simple to automate as a pump-based rig. however if you just want to toy with the idea this is the method to go.