Report: Amazon is developing smart glasses for its delivery drivers

Amazon.com Inc. is developing a pair of smart glasses meant to make its delivery drivers more productive, Reuters reported today.

The project is said to be known as Amelia internally.

The upcoming device is reportedly based on the consumer-focused Echo Frames smart glasses that Amazon introduced in 2020. The latter product is currently in its third iteration. The latest version, which debuted last year, features a lighter design and a longer battery life than the two previous generations.

Amazon has equipped the Echo Frames with an Alexa integration that allows users to check the weather, set timers and perform a range of tasks. Amelia, the smart glasses that Amazon is developing for its drivers, will reportedly add a tiny embedded display to one of the lenses. The plan is to use the display to show turn-by-turn navigation instructions to the wearer.

Amazon reportedly envisions its drivers using the device for multiple tasks. According to Reuters, the built-in navigation system will help the wearer reach delivery stops faster. At each stop, the device will provide assistance with tasks such as avoiding obstacles and determining where to go after stepping out of an elevator.

It’s believed Amazon also plans to equip the smart glasses with a camera. The goal is to let drivers photograph delivered packages for customers.

Developing the glasses could take years, according to Reuters. One reason is the difficulty of building a battery that is both compact and can last an eight-hour shift. Additionally, the glasses’ onboard navigation software is expected to require extensive mapping data, which could take several years to collect.

Today’s report didn’t detail the device’s other components. The onboard navigation system and camera could require more processing power than the consumer-grade Echo Frames, which hints that Amazon may add a faster chip. However, smart glasses’ compact form factor generally makes it difficult to accommodate an advanced processor and its supporting components.

Amazon could theoretically package the upcoming device’s processing components into a wearable companion module, possibly together with the battery. That’s an approach some mixed reality headset makers have taken with their devices. Alternatively, the glasses might rely on the user’s smartphone for processing. The Echo Frames can already connect to the wearer’s handset via Bluetooth.

Amazon reportedly hopes that its upcoming glasses will enable drivers to visit more stops per shift by easing navigation. Additionally, the gadget could enable the wearer to carry more packages by removing the need to use a handheld GPS device.

Today’s report cautioned that the project may be canceled or delayed in the event that it encounters significant technical obstacles. But if the technology works, it’s believed Amazon could bring the embedded display to the Echo Frames. The feature is expected to become available in the second quarter of 2026.

Amazon is also developing other new technologies to boost driver productivity. Last month, it detailed an artificial intelligence system called VAPR that can be installed in delivery vans. The device shines a green “O” on the packages that should be dropped off at a given stop and a red “X” on the other parcels. 

Image: Amazon