A method for controlling a robotic item handler is described. The method includes obtaining first point cloud data related to a first three-dimensional (3D) image and second point cloud data related to a second 3D image, captured by a first sensor device and a second sensor device respectively. Further, the method can include transforming the first point cloud data and the second point cloud data to combined point cloud data that is used as an input to a convolutional neural network, to construct a machine learning model. The machine learning model can output a decision classification indicative of a first probability associated with a first operating mode and a second probability associated with a second operating mode. Furthermore, the method can include operating the robotic item handler according to the first operating mode or the second operating mode based on a comparison of the first probability and the second probability.