It was reported late last year that Amazon was working on smart glasses designed specifically to aid its delivery drivers, complete with a small integrated display. Those glasses have just been revealed, and they feature an always-on camera to assist drivers and provide added safety.
“Designed specifically for DAs, these glasses help them scan packages, follow turn-by-turn walking directions, and capture proof of delivery—all without the use of their phone,” says Amazon.
Amazon says that when a delivery associate arrives at a delivery location, the glasses automatically provide information to the driver within their field-of-view, including the identification of the correct packages.
“The display then offers walking turn-by-turn navigation to the delivery address, using Amazon’s geospatial technology to guide drivers to the exact delivery location without having to check their phone”, says Amazon. “If there are hazards, or a need to navigate complex environments like apartment buildings, the glasses will guide DAs safely to their destination.”
The glasses are connected to a control system and swappable battery that are contained within the driver’s delivery vest. Drivers can press a button on the system to take a picture of each successful delivery. Amazon says that this new system was designed with feedback from hundreds of delivery associates, and caters to their needs.
A timeline for the device’s rollout has not been given, and Amazon says that it anticipates new features will be available in future versions, including real-time package defect detection, and pet identification for any animals that might be waiting for the driver outside.
The following was originally published Novemeber 18, 2024:
Amazon is reportedly looking to speed up its delivery times with an unconventional strategy. Reuters has reported that the multi-industry giant is developing smart glasses to be worn by its drivers in an effort to help expedite delivery times.
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Citing anonymous sources within the company, Reuters claims that while the existing Amazon Echo Frames smart glasses platform support voice commands as well as audio navigation, the glasses in development, code-named Amelia, would incorporate a small display integrated within the glasses’ lenses that would provide navigation, as well as allow drivers to quickly take a picture of delivered packages. It’s intended to be part of Amazon’s plan to increase the efficiency of the “last mile” of deliveries, where delays are often found. The last mile can include trouble navigating a neighborhood, or finding one’s way through a confusing apartment complex.
Getting these glasses into the hands of drivers is still a ways off, however, as the company is currently dealing with hurdles with development, including sourcing batteries that would support the glasses’ use during a full work day, as well as work ensuring the glasses are comfortable enough to be worn by drivers without causing fatigue. According to multiple unnamed sources cited by Reuters, the integration of a small screen in the lens of the smart glasses is planned to be included in a future generation of Echo Frames that could see release “as soon as 2026’s second quarter.”
