What to know
- Amazon is developing smart glasses codenamed “Amelia” to help delivery drivers navigate more efficiently and locate packages faster.
- The glasses will display turn-by-turn directions on a small screen and warn drivers about obstacles like gates and dogs, potentially saving several seconds per delivery.
- The project faces challenges including battery life, driver adoption, and the need to collect detailed mapping data, with no guaranteed timeline for release.
Amazon is developing smart glasses for delivery drivers to improve efficiency and reduce costs during the final stage of delivery. The tech giant aims to streamline the crucial “last mile” of package delivery, where over 50% of delivery costs are typically incurred.
Reuters reports that the smart glasses, internally known as “Amelia,” will revolutionize how drivers navigate their routes. By projecting turn-by-turn directions on a small embedded screen, the glasses will guide drivers through neighborhoods and buildings while warning them about potential obstacles like gates or aggressive dogs.
This initiative follows Amazon’s recent introduction of the Vision Assisted Package Retrieval (VAPR) system, which uses AI to help drivers locate packages in their vans. VAPR projects green circles on packages for immediate delivery and red X’s on those for later stops, potentially reducing delivery times by 30 minutes per route.
The smart glasses would eliminate the need for handheld GPS devices, freeing up drivers’ hands to carry more packages. While saving just seconds per delivery might seem minimal, it adds up significantly considering Amazon’s millions of daily deliveries.
However, the project faces several hurdles. Amazon must develop a lightweight battery that can last an entire eight-hour shift,collect comprehensive mapping data for delivery locations, and convince drivers to adopt the technology. These challenges could potentially delay or halt the project’s progress.
