Yongin, Thursday, 4 September 2025.
Everland will deploy AI-driven RBQ quadruped robots as parade performers in its autumn festival, starting this Friday and running through mid-November. This marks Korea’s first use of four-legged robots as parade participants, with two RBQ units choreographed to music to lead a 600 m, 35-minute Smiley Pumpkin Parade alongside human dancers. For retail and park operators the move signals a shift to experiential automation: robots can extend storytelling, reduce cast size, and create new IP-led merchandising, sponsorship opportunities. Operationally, expect challenges around battery and thermal management, AI-based path planning and obstacle avoidance in dense crowds, redundancy and manual overrides for compliance, and high-frequency maintenance cycles. Visitor reaction, regulatory approvals and integration lessons will be watched by international parks and vendors; successful commercialization could unlock scalable robotic entertainment across portfolios. Retail teams should assess brand fit, guest flow impact, and new revenue streams tied to character goods and sponsored tech experiences.