Robotics

VacuumVLA: A Two-in-One Robot Hand That Grips and Suctions

Kari Jaaskelainen

27 Nov 2025 — 1 min read

Robots guided by Vision-Language-Action (VLA) AI are getting better at everyday tasks—but most still use simple two-finger grippers. That limits them on smooth, flat, or handleless objects.

VacuumVLA is a low-cost robot hand that merges a standard two-finger gripper with a vacuum suction cup. The robot can switch between modes—or use both together—on the fly.

Wipe glass and other wide surfaces
Open drawers without handles
Pick up flat items like lids or sheets
Stabilize awkward objects by gripping and suctioning at once

The team integrated the tool into two leading VLA systems (DexVLA and Pi0) and showed it could complete complex tasks that defeat a gripper alone.

All hardware designs and control systems will be released. Read the paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.21557v1

Paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.21557v1

Register: https://www.AiFeta.com

Robotics AI VLA Manipulation Hardware Suction Gripper Research OpenSource

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