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Aramex Completes Testing Dubai Drone & Bot Delivery Service
The program is part of the company’s future logistics service, which aims to enhance the efficiency of last-mile deliveries.
Aramex, the Middle East’s largest courier company, has announced the successful completion of tests into a robot and drone delivery service in Dubai. The 16,000-employee company is currently researching emerging delivery technologies in a bid to boost sustainability and reduce its overall carbon footprint.
The initiative is part of the logistics company’s “future delivery program,” which aims to improve last-mile shipping by employing smart solutions for “quicker, sustainable and cost-effective deliveries”.
Initial tests took place at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York in partnership with Barq EV, a commercial drone delivery company based in the Emirates, and Kiwibot, a Colombia-based business specializing in delivery robotics.
“[The project] enables Aramex to further contribute to UAE’s sustainability ambitions as we embark on our mission to transition our fleet to emission-free vehicles and achieve our climate pledge to reach carbon neutrality by 2030,” says Alaa Saoudi, Aramex Chief Operating Officer.
Also Read: A First Glimpse Of Dubai’s Air Taxis Flying Past Local Landmarks
Aramex has already revealed plans to scale delivery services further to reach more customers across the MENA region, though there’s no firm timeline at the moment.
The drones and delivery robots used in Dubai will be equipped with multidirectional sensors. At the same time, fleet management software will help to synchronize and plan order placements, dispatch management, flight and road routing, and more.
According to data from research company Markets and Markets, the drone delivery market is estimated to be worth $228 million — a figure that will climb to $5.6 billion by 2030. e-Commerce giant Amazon has already started delivering some California and Texas packages by drone, and Walmart, the world’s biggest retailer, already offers autonomous delivery in some areas.
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Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024
The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.