Amazon is working on developing smart eyeglasses to help its delivery drivers improve the last stage of package deliveries. The project, still in development, will integrate a small embedded screen on the glasses to provide turn-by-turn navigation.
This innovation is designed to guide drivers through buildings and around obstacles, ultimately helping them deliver packages more efficiently, according to a Reuters report from sources familiar with the matter.
Key Features of Amazon’s Delivery Eyeglasses
- Turn-by-Turn Navigation: The glasses will display directions directly on the lens, offering guidance at each stop.
- Enhanced Efficiency: Directions will include navigating off elevators, around gates, or avoiding obstacles like aggressive dogs, thereby reducing delivery time.
- Increased Capacity: The glasses will allow drivers to free their hands from GPS devices, enabling them to carry more packages.
- Proof of Delivery: The glasses will have a camera feature to capture images of delivered packages, providing proof for customers.
Aiming to Cut Costs and Improve Delivery
The development of these smart glasses is part of Amazon’s broader strategy to streamline delivery operations and reduce “last mile” costs. The company is focusing on optimizing the final part of the delivery journey, where a significant portion of shipping costs are incurred. As competition from Walmart intensifies in e-commerce, Amazon is looking to enhance efficiency and reduce delivery expenses.
Technology and Challenges
Based on Amazon’s Echo Frames, which allow users to listen to audio and use voice commands, the delivery-specific glasses—internally referred to as “Amelia”—are designed to be worn throughout a full shift. However, sources report that Amazon faces challenges in developing a battery capable of lasting an entire eight-hour shift while keeping the glasses light and comfortable.
Convincing delivery drivers to adopt the glasses is another potential hurdle. Concerns about comfort, distraction, or appearance may make drivers hesitant, especially those already wearing corrective glasses. Since many of Amazon’s drivers work for third-party delivery companies, the company could potentially make wearing the glasses a contractual requirement.
The Future of the Project
Despite these challenges, the project is progressing, with further developments expected. If successful, the delivery glasses could significantly improve efficiency, helping Amazon reduce delivery times and costs. However, the project could be delayed or shelved if it doesn’t meet expectations. The glasses are expected to be released by 2026, potentially as part of an upgraded version of Echo Frames.
Amazon has long invested in building its in-house delivery network, including its own airline and trucks, to reduce reliance on third-party couriers like UPS and FedEx. However, the company is still grappling with rising shipping costs, which increased by 8% to $23.5 billion in the third quarter, according to the report.
The report also mentions that Amazon has struggled with sales of its Echo Frames wearables, reportedly selling fewer than 10,000 units of the latest model. However, Amazon disputes these figures, claiming sales were higher without providing specific numbers.
An Amazon spokesperson emphasized that the company is focused on improving the delivery experience for drivers but declined to comment further on future products in its roadmap.