Amazon Introduces AI-Powered Package Retrieval Technology
Amazon has announced the upcoming addition of new AI-powered package retrieval technology to its electric vehicle fleet. The vision-based tech, known as Vision-Assisted Package Retrieval (VAPR), is designed to help drivers prioritize packages. This technology works by highlighting packages with either a green circle or red light, indicating which ones are designated for delivery at the current stop. According to the company, VAPR will eliminate the need for drivers to stop the van and search for the relevant packages each time.
Eliminating the Need for Handheld Devices
In addition to the visual cues provided by VAPR, there is also an audio cue that alerts the driver if they have selected the appropriate packages. Amazon notes that this technology will eliminate the need for handheld devices that are currently used by delivery drivers. The company has been working on the VAPR system since early 2020, taking into account factors unique to the delivery experience, such as lighting and space constraints inside vans.
Efficiency and Future Plans
The VAPR system is scheduled to be implemented on 1,000 of Amazon’s electric Rivian vans by early 2025. Amazon has been conducting quiet tests of the technology in select markets, including Boston, where drivers have been able to reduce the time spent at each stop from two to five minutes to under a minute. This move towards increased efficiency and automation in package retrieval is part of Amazon’s ongoing efforts to streamline its delivery operations.
