Amazon Unveils VAPR: AI-Powered System to Boost Delivery Efficiency
Delivery drivers face a considerable time challenge sorting through packages at each stop. Amazon is addressing this with Vision-Assisted Package Retrieval (VAPR), an innovative AI-powered solution designed to optimize package handling. This technology promises to significantly reduce the time drivers spend organizing packages by stops, reading labels, or manually verifying customer details.
With VAPR, the process is simplified: drivers simply look for a green light projected onto the correct packages, grab them, and proceed. This streamlined approach is poised to transform the delivery experience.
The Genesis and Development of VAPR
The concept of VAPR emerged in early 2020 from within Amazon Transportation. The team envisioned leveraging technology to assist drivers, taking into account unique challenges like the limited space and lighting conditions inside delivery vans. Following several years of development and refinement, incorporating feedback from drivers who piloted the tech, VAPR is now set to be rolled out across 1,000 Amazon electric delivery vans from Rivian by early 2025.
How VAPR Works
At a delivery location, VAPR automatically projects a green “O” on packages designated for that stop and a red “X” on others. This visual cue, combined with audio confirmation, alerts the driver to the correct packages before they enter the cargo area. This eliminates the need for drivers to use mobile devices throughout the delivery process, further streamlining the workflow.
“Before, it could take me anywhere between 2 and 5 minutes to empty a tote and organize packages for the next stops. Now, with VAPR, this whole step just takes me about a minute,” said Bobby Garcia, a driver with Bloomfield Logistics, who has been testing VAPR. “It’s made my life so much easier.”
Advanced Technology Behind the System
VAPR leverages Amazon Robotics Identification (AR-ID), a computer vision technology initially developed for fulfillment centers. AR-ID replaces the need for manual barcode scanning by instantly identifying items and deciphering multiple barcodes in real-time. To achieve this, the VAPR system uses machine learning models trained to recognize various labels and packages under differing lighting and environmental conditions. It is also paired with special automotive light projectors and cameras that integrate with the van’s navigation system.
Amazon is integrating several AWS (Amazon Web Services) technologies into VAPR, including the machine learning platform SageMaker and IoT Greengrass.
Benefits and Results
VAPR aims to simplify the delivery process, empowering drivers to focus on providing exceptional customer service. Early testing indicates a 67% reduction in perceived physical and mental effort for drivers, with over 30 minutes saved per route.
Stephen Harry, Delivery Service Partner (DSP) and owner of Bloomfield Logistics, stated, “VAPR always finds the right packages.”
With over 390,000 DSP drivers worldwide and a fleet of more than 100,000 vans delivering millions of packages daily, VAPR has the potential to significantly improve efficiency. Amazon is dedicated to improving the driver experience through continued development of innovative technology solutions across its delivery network.
