Amazon developing smart glasses to offer real-time navigation for delivery agents

Amazon is reportedly working on a new type of smart glasses, currently codenamed "Amelia," designed to assist its delivery drivers in navigating routes more efficiently. These glasses aim to enhance the delivery process by displaying real-time, step-by-step navigation directly in the driver’s field of vision.

With millions of packages needing delivery daily, Amazon hopes this technology could streamline operations and reduce delivery times, especially in complex areas like apartment buildings and gated communities.

The smart glasses would provide visual guidance on a small display, showing drivers exactly where to go for each delivery. They could also include alerts about potential obstacles such as locked gates, dogs, or other barriers, potentially reducing the time and effort required to complete each delivery.

By eliminating the need for drivers to frequently check their handheld GPS devices, Amazon envisions that drivers will have both hands free, allowing them to handle packages more easily and safely while moving through their routes more quickly.

This innovation is part of Amazon's broader strategy to reduce delivery expenses, particularly in light of rising competition from companies like Walmart, which is offering new incentives to attract delivery drivers during the high-demand holiday season. "Last-mile" delivery—the final stretch of getting packages to customers’ doorsteps—is known to be one of the costliest and most challenging aspects of the logistics chain.

Amazon’s delivery costs recently rose to $23.5 billion, leading the company to explore ways to increase efficiency. In addition to these glasses, Amazon has already implemented in-van scanners to help drivers locate packages faster, a solution that these smart glasses could potentially enhance further by optimizing navigation during the final stages of each delivery.

However, the development of these glasses is still in progress, with Amazon needing to address technical challenges like extending battery life to last a full shift while keeping the device lightweight and comfortable. Another hurdle is mapping specific delivery locations and neighborhoods in sufficient detail, which could take years to complete.

Additionally, there is the challenge of driver acceptance; some drivers may find the glasses uncomfortable or distracting. Although Amazon could potentially require the use of these glasses, especially among third-party delivery contractors, it remains uncertain how quickly or widely they would be adopted.

Amazon’s smart glasses concept builds upon its earlier venture into wearable tech with the Echo Frames, glasses that allow users to listen to audio and interact with Alexa. While Echo Frames did not see significant sales, Amazon has continued its investment in smart eyewear, with plans to release an updated version of Echo Frames featuring a display screen by 2026.