Amazon Unveils AI-Powered Smart Glasses for Delivery Drivers
Amazon has introduced a prototype of artificial intelligence-powered smart glasses designed to assist its delivery drivers on the job.
The device, called “Amelia,” features a built-in camera and display and connects to a specially designed waistcoat with a button that drivers can press to capture photos of deliveries.
“We’re testing the glasses at several locations with more than a dozen delivery service partners and hundreds of drivers across the country,” said Beryl Tomay, Amazon’s Vice President of Transportation, during a launch event in Silicon Valley.
With this move, Amazon joins a growing number of U.S. tech companies exploring AI-enabled wearables. For now, however, the Amelia glasses are intended solely for delivery operations, not for consumer use.
Amazon Tests AI-Powered Smart Glasses and New Warehouse Technologies
Amazon is continuing to test its prototype AI-powered “Amelia” smart glasses, with plans to eventually make the technology available to delivery drivers in North America first, followed by a global rollout.
According to Beryl Tomay, Amazon’s Vice President of Transportation, the device has already been used in real-world conditions.
“Drivers have been doing real deliveries with these,” she said. “We custom-designed it for that use case. There’s a very specific application here.”
When asked by the BBC whether the glasses could one day be marketed to consumers, Ms. Tomay did not rule out the possibility.
In addition to the Amelia glasses, Amazon also unveiled a new robotic arm designed to work alongside warehouse employees to sort parcels more quickly and accurately. The system, already in use at a warehouse in South Carolina, is intended to reduce injuries and maximize space efficiency, the company said.
Amazon is further preparing to deploy an AI-driven management system in its warehouses to analyze operations and recommend efficiency improvements.
“It pulls in historical and real-time data across a building to anticipate bottlenecks and keep operations running smoothly,” the company explained.
Meta and Amazon Take Different Paths in the Race for Smart Glasses
Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has also been exploring smart glasses technology in recent years.
At its Meta Connect conference last month, the company introduced a new range of glasses powered by Meta AI, including a Ray-Ban model with a built-in display. Unlike Amazon’s approach, Meta’s devices are aimed squarely at the mainstream consumer market.
Meta promoted its smart glasses as a way for users to stay more connected to the real world while still accessing digital tools — a hands-free alternative to constantly checking a smartphone.
Amazon’s “Amelia” smart glasses, on the other hand, are focused on improving efficiency in the “last mile” of its delivery operations.
According to Beryl Tomay, Amazon’s Vice President of Transportation, the glasses are equipped with motion detection that allows them to automatically shut off when inside a moving vehicle.
“From a safety perspective, we thought that was important — no distractions,” she told reporters at an event in California.
Ms. Tomay estimated that the glasses could save drivers up to 30 minutes per 8- to 10-hour shift by reducing repetitive tasks and helping them locate packages more quickly.
The device also includes a hardware switch that lets drivers turn off the glasses and disable all sensors, including the camera and microphone.
“Drivers can choose to keep it off,” Ms. Tomay added.
0 Comments