Systems and methods for safely operating autonomous cargo handling systems

A method for performing a safety assessment of a cargo handling system controlled by a processor and having a plurality of sensing agents is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes receiving by the processor a run-time database from the plurality of sensing agents, the run-time database including data from which a positioning of a plurality of objects on the cargo handling system may be determined; generating by the processor a mapping of the positioning of the plurality of objects; validating by the processor whether a run-time state of the cargo handling system is in violation of a safety protocol; and determining by the processor whether to implement a corrective action.