Amazon Wednesday confirmed that it has been testing a wearable heads-up display (HUD) for delivery drivers. Still in the development and pilot stages, Amazon Smart Glasses are expressly designed to reduce the driver’s dependence on a smartphone or other handheld device, which can prove dangerous distractions during delivery.
In that sense, the system is similar to other industrial HUD systems that have become increasingly popular in warehouses and other industrial settings. Here, the glasses utilize on-board cameras to scan package details, provide turn-by-turn walking directions from the delivery vehicle to the destination, and allow the associate to snap a photo as proof of delivery.
During a run, the displays remain off until the associate has parked the delivery vehicle in the correct location. The Smart Glasses then activate, displaying the location of the package within the truck. Once located and scanned, the glasses switch over into turn-by-turn walking directions mode, utilizing Amazon’s proprietary geospatial tech, which includes details for navigating through more complex structures including apartments.
The lenses are transitional, adjusting to different light levels, as drivers enter and exit their vehicles. They also support prescription lenses and can be operated via a small controller located in the associate’s vest, negating the need to be tethered to a smartphone. The on-board battery is swappable as well, so drivers should be able to rely on the same pair for a full shift.
The video still looks to be proof of concept, though I will report my own impressions after taking a closer look at an early version of the technology at an Amazon event in the Bay Area this week. The company says “hundreds” of its delivery associates have already tested early prototypes of the glasses, contributing feedback to refine the user experience.
Future updates to the Smart Glasses could include notifications when the driver gets the address wrong and alerts when there’s a pet in the yard. No word yet on when Amazon expects to roll its smart glasses out to a wider swath of its fleet.
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