Amazon Says New Tech Will Be a Boost for Its Drivers

Amazon has introduced what it calls Vision-Assisted Package Retrieval (VAPR), a technology designed to facilitate more efficient deliveries for its drivers. Announced by Amazon's retail chief, Doug Harrington, at a Nashville event, VAPR aims to streamline package handling by reducing the need for drivers to organize packages as they make stops or manually check to that they have the right parcel for each delivery.

Set to be deployed in 1,000 delivery vans by early next year, VAPR employs a system of visual aids to indicate package status. Upon reaching a delivery destination, the system projects a green "0" on packages to be delivered, while a red "X" marks those to stay in the van. Additionally, audio and visual signals confirm the correct package selection to the driver. Trial runs with Amazon's Delivery Service Partners have demonstrated promising results, reducing both the "perceived physical and mental effort" for drivers. Amazon says those early tests show VAPR has saved drivers over 30 minutes per route. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)