GabyIt is expected that smart glasses Couriers will receive step-by-step instructions for the entire route and at each stop. As promised by the company, the new device will guide drivers to buildings and also make navigation inside them easier. At the final stage of the journey, the glasses will indicate, for example, whether to bypass the elevator to the left or right, as well as how to overcome obstacles like aggressive dogs.
Overall, the instructions from the glasses will help workers save valuable seconds on each delivery.
The new technology will free drivers from the need to use portable global positioning system devices, allowing for the transportation of more cargo.
The project demonstrated another effort by Amazon to enhance driver safety and reduce the cost of delivering each package.
The final meters decide everything.
In implementing the innovation, the company focused particularly on the “last mile” of delivery, that is, its final stage.
According to managers, the “last mile” is an expensive and complex segment of the journey that requires a more rapid orientation in the area. Few people know that this crucial distance forces companies to engage more couriers and spend more fuel. Experts estimate that half of the cost of delivering a product to the buyer’s doorstep is attributed to this final stretch to the customer.
What else is known about delivery workers’ smart glasses?
These smart glasses are based on Amazon’s Echo Frames. They allow users to listen to audio clips and use voice commands with the virtual assistant Alexa.
Known under the internal code name Amelia, the delivery glasses will also be able to take reporting photos of delivered packages.
According to the company, delivery drivers currently visit over 100 clients per shift. However, thanks to the innovation, they will be able to transport more packages and reach more households, the publication reported. Daily Mail .
The technology is still in the development stage. Currently, in Amazon There were difficulties in creating a battery that could last through a full eight-hour shift and be light enough to carry all day without getting tired.
Another challenge in developing the system is that collecting the most complete data on each building, street, sidewalk, curb, driveway, etc., can take years. The same goes for improving this know-how.
The company may face other obstacles, including the need to convince thousands of drivers to use glasses that may be uncomfortable or unattractive. Not to mention that some couriers already wear prescription glasses.
However, according to experts, the majority of Amazon couriers are staff from third-party companies. Therefore, Amazon could make wearing glasses a mandatory condition of the contract.
