Amazon.com Inc. today detailed VAPR, an internally developed artificial intelligence system designed to ease the work of its delivery drivers.

The e-commerce giant relies on a fleet of about 100,000 vans to ship goods to online shoppers. After reaching a customer’s home, an Amazon delivery driver must find the parcels ordered by that customer, which can take several minutes. In some cases, the driver also reorganizes the remaining packages to reduce the amount of time that will be needed to retrieve them later on. 

Amazon’s newly detailed VAPR system is designed to speed up the process. According to the company, internal tests indicate that the technology can save drivers more than half an hour per delivery route. Additionally, the drivers who tested VAPR reported that it reduced the amount of physical and mental effort involved in their work. 

Usually, finding the parcel ordered by a customer requires reading the text on the packages in a van’s storage compartment. VAPR spares drivers the hassle. It uses a projector to shine a green “O” on the packages that should be dropped off at a given stop and a red “X” on the other parcels.

Under the hood, VAPR is based on a system called AR ID that Amazon first detailed in 2022. The latter technology helps power the company’s fulfillment centers. It uses AI software and cameras to automatically scan package barcodes, which removes the need for workers to use handheld barcode scanners. 

VAPR also incorporates a number of Amazon Web Services service. The system is powered by AWS IoT Greengrass, which that makes it possible to run AI models and software on connected devices. VAPR also uses the Amazon SageMaker suite of tools for building machine learning applications. 

According to Amazon, its engineers adapted the AI models that power VAPR to the operating conditions of a delivery van. The algorithms are optimized to scan different kinds of parcels under variable lighting conditions. VAPR’s hardware components, in turn, include “specially designed automotive light projectors and cameras.” 

Amazon has connected the system to its vans’ built-in navigation software. According to the company, the integration allows VAPR to detect when a van reaches a delivery spot and determine which parcels should be dropped off.

The company plans to implement VAPR in 1,000 electric delivery vans by early 2025. The system will also become available to some of the third-party delivery companies that help the e-commerce giant ship goods to customers.

Amazon detailed VAPR today alongside a new AI feature in its e-commerce marketplace’s mobile client. AI Shopping Guides, as the feature is called, can automatically generate brief product descriptions to speed up research for online shoppers. It supports more than 100 product categories on launch.

The company develops AI software for not only its own e-commerce business but also other retailers. It offers a platform called Just Walk Out that store operators can use to provide cashierless checkout options. Earlier this year, Amazon introduced a new AI model for Just Walk Out that can more accurately detect when customers place items in their carts.

Photo: Amazon