Collaborative inventory monitoring

A warehouse management system comprising:

• a communication interface operable for communication with a plurality of robotic devices comprising at least a first robotic device and a second robotic device, wherein the first and second robotic devices are both arranged for transport of inventory items in a warehouse environment having a plurality of inventory items, wherein each inventor item has a corresponding on-item identifier, and wherein the first and second robotic devices are separately movable in the warehouse environment;
• a processor;
• and
• program instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by the processor to:
• determine the first robotic device has a transport assignment to transport a target inventory item from the plurality of inventory items, the target inventory item having a target on-item identifier;
• determine that a first inventory item has been loaded onto the first robotic device in response to the transport assignment;
• receive image data captured by an image sensor of the second robotic device;
• analyze the received image data to:
• (a) determine that at least a portion of the first robotic device is in a field of view of the image sensor of the second robotic device, and responsively (b) detect a first on-item identifier of the first inventory item loaded on the first robotic device;
• based at least in part on a comparison of the first on-item identifier to the target on-item identifier, determine whether or not the target inventory item is loaded on the first robotic device;
• and
• responsive to the determination as to whether or not the target inventory item is loaded on the first robotic device, perform an action.

In a warehouse environment having a plurality of inventory items located therein, each having a corresponding on-item identifier, a method comprising:

• determining that a target inventory item from the plurality of inventory items should be located on a first robotic device arranged for transport of items, the target inventory item having a target on-item identifier;
• receiving image data captured by an image sensor of a second robotic device, wherein the second robotic device is arranged for transport of inventory items, and wherein the first and second robotic devices are separately movable in the warehouse environment;
• detecting the first robotic device in the received image data;
• responsive to detecting the first robotic device in the received image data, searching the received image data for on-item identifiers, wherein the search detects a first on-item identifier;
• comparing the first on-item identifier and the target on-item identifier to determine whether or not the target inventory item is loaded on the first robotic device;
• and
• responsive to the determination as to whether or not the target inventory item is loaded on the first robotic device, performing an action.