US Patent 9216857 Automated inventory management system

Some examples include an inventory system having both mobile drive units remotely controllable to transport inventory items and holders within a warehouse and automated aerial vehicles remotely controllable to identify and remove amnesty items from the storage region. In some implementations, the automated aerial vehicles are equipped with imaging components to monitor the floor of the warehouse to identify and engagement mechanisms to secure and remove the amnesty items that may otherwise impede the movement of the mobile drive units.