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We've used to seeing odd shenanigans throughout Times Square, from giant bronze lady statues to huge hot dog sculptures to fistfights between full-grown men dressed like Elmo. And next week, you can add roaming robots to the weird midtown mix.
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Yes, on Wednesday, June 4 at 4 pm Eastern, Liquid I.V.—the health-and-wellness company known for its sporty (and hangover-curing) hydration and electrolyte drink mixes—is hosting its first-ever robot-powered takeover, a first-of-its-kind partnership with Kiwibot that will see 50 autonomous robots taking to the streets of Times Square to promote the brand. A bit more involved than your usual midtown billboard, huh?
The immersive experience will see the bots deliver free samples of Liquid I.V. in a variety of refreshing, fruity flavors (including Lemon Line, White Peach and Raspberry Lemonade) to otherwise unsuspecting Times Square pedestrians. (You know those tourists are about to be very confused.)
Adding to the spectacle, the machines will also participate in a fully choreographed robot flash mob performance in Duffy Square. And at the peak of activation, a Times Square digital billboard will display a staged glitch effect syncing on beat with the robot movement and the brand's hydration message. The bots will capture the whole experiences in in real time with a mounted GoPro, offering sharable first-person content.
If you miss out on the Times Square takeover, don't fret: The robots will also be roaming around various areas of Manhattan on Wednesday, including Soho, Flatiron, Union Square and Bryant Park. And if you, like this writer, are a bit freaked out by the thought of robots meandering around Manhattan, at least all of that free Liquid I.V. will give you the energy boost you need to run away!