In　order　to　investigate　the　problems　of　low　knowledge　reuse　rate　and　long　product　design　cycle　in　the　body　design　process　of　transfer　robot,　knowledge　template　system　architecture　and　main　knowledge　template　structures　are　established　based　on　knowledge　engineering　theory　and　template　technology.　The　knowledge　template　system　is　hierarchical,　which　are　divided　into　integral　transfer　robot　product　family　template　of　top　level,　the　diverse　transfer　robot　product　template　of　middle　level,　and　the　functional　block　templates　of　lower　level.　The　transfer　robot　product　family　template,　the　wrist　template　and　the　arm　template　structures　are　given.　An　intelligent　design　system　framework　for　transfer　robot　body　design　based　on　the　design　templates　is　presented,　which　is　composed　of　interactive　interface,　application　design　module,　inference　engine　module,　three-dimensional　parametric　design　module,　knowledge　base　and　management　module.　An　intelligent　design　prototype　system　is　developed　by　using　object-oriented　technology　and　the　knowledge　template　technology,　and　the　mechanism　configuration　design,　structural　design　of　functional　blocks　are　implemented　in　the　system.　The　research　results　provide　the　basis　for　establishing　a　more　integrated　design　system　and　the　template　technology　is　promising　for　speeding　the　design　process.　©　2020,　Springer　Nature　Singapore　Pte　Ltd.