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A number of research works has conducted on robotic handling. The range of objects to be handled by robots are expanding, varying from rigid to soft bodies. Based on this background, studies have been performed into, for example, robots capable of gripping cloth or flipping book pages.

This study is performed to establish a system for the handling of silkworm larvae using an industrial robotic arm, to allow automated breeding of silkworm larvae in an insect factory, and to produce useful materials. Silkworm larvae are not only soft, but also amorphous. Therefore, gripping them is extremely difficult, and requires a specialized handling system. We have developed a gripping device (end effector) to handle silkworm larvae and a corresponding control program. It was confirmed that these system had a function to handle silkworm larva automatically.