Amazon: Smart glasses for delivery staff should save valuable seconds

Amazon is developing smart glasses that can display precise directions to delivery staff. This is reported by Reuters. The smart glasses are intended to speed up delivery, especially on the last few meters to the final destination.

Navigation elements displayed in the wearer's field of vision could show them how to avoid obstacles or aggressive dogs, writes Reuters. This could save valuable seconds during delivery. Because smart glasses are worn on the face, Amazon delivery staff would no longer need to hold a GPS device for navigation – and would then have two hands free to carry parcels. This would allow delivery staff to make more deliveries in the same amount of time.

Battery life is a problem

The development of smart delivery glasses is based on Amazon's Echo Frames, reports Reuters. The glasses can play sound and accept voice commands from Alexa. A bigger challenge is the display, which is intended to show AR content in the wearer's field of vision. Amazon also wants to install a camera that can take photos as proof of delivery.

According to Reuters, the project is codenamed "Amelia" internally. One major hurdle in development is battery life: Smart glasses for delivery would have to last through an eight-hour working day on one charge, while remaining comparatively light and comfortable to wear – this limits the size of the battery.

Not only is the hardware a challenge, the database is also currently lacking: for the project, Amazon wants to collect precise information on every house, every sidewalk and every driveway, writes Reuters. According to the Reuters sources, this could take years.

According to the report, Amazon is also working on a new consumer version of the Echo Frames, which is set to go on sale in 2026.

(dahe)