Worried about springtime pollen levels, Weathernews, Inc. of Tokyo is sending out an army of robot noses to monitor allergens. Two hundred 12-inch spherical robots are being strung up across Japan, each with monitoring gear that tests levels of airborne cedar and cypress pollen. Every bot hangs outside a volunteer's home, its "eyes" flashing colors matching the current alert levels, and Weathernews' Tokyo office compiles the data into an online map. Pairs of glowing red robot eyes warning people of a health risk? Sounds a tad too anime to us. [Weathernews via Pink Tentacle]
Robots Sniff Out Pollens So Japanese Don't Have To
11:01 AM on Tue Jan 29 2008
By Kit Eaton
2,270 views
36 comments









Comments
Just don't deploy these in Boston.
Imagine having one of these on a creepy foggy night right outside your window >_<
It's the extra pieces of GLaDOS
Daaaaamn those are creepy.
So red is bad, green is good? Wouldn't a spectrum of colors corrosponding to pollen levels make more sense instead of a simple on/off?
Haro, is that you?
Can't you just imagine these things shrieking and swarming through cities on their thin creepy robotic tentacles?
There's no way those evil-looking things aren't part of SkyNet
GLaDOS is ALIVE!!!!
The Second Renaissance is upon us.
Why did they have to give it eyes? It went from an instrument to a robot with two LEDs
Add a disproportionate body and 30 billion times the intellect of a live mattress and you get Marvin the Paranoid Android out of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Then we can be both depressed and informed.
The pollen levels are a...naaaa too easy.
Helpful robots are ALWAYS cool! :D
What color indicates deadly neurotoxin?
This was a triumph.
Finally! This was a triumph! I'm making a note here... HUGE SUCCESS! It's hard to over-state my sat-is-faction.
I would tell you my comment...but you wont like it
siiiiiiiiigh
This will all end in tears
I think this is great - I'd buy one so if I am going out to do yard work I'll know if the pollen levels are going to trigger my allergies because some days its better and others worse.
"I'm only a million times smarter than all of you, I should be the one to stand outside and sniff for pollen" -Marvin
Funny, I dont see their companion cubes anywhere. Maybe they're already incinerated!!!
Marvin from Hitchhiker's Guide?
@Set to evil: Oh good, I wasn't the only one to make the connection.
Marvin and GLaDOS references are why I come to gizmodo.
@SeraSera: HARO genki! HARO genki!
Well, I, for one, welcome our new pollen-sniffing overlords...
[sorry, but it just had to be said...]
Japan why are you so creepy? Why are you going to kill us all with your AI robots in 30 years?
Outside your door?!
Psaawh... I jump-thought those who are prone to allergies stuck these up their noses!
That's hilarious. I just finished Portal two days ago. Creepy stuff here.
@AmishJohn: Obvs, all these robots need to hop around saying "Amuro!"
@Brad: You beat me to it.
These would make a GREAT Dr. Who villian.
I, for one, welcome our new robot head overloads. Remember, red eyes mean you're about to die for your sins, so rejoice!
I'm making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS.
Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy.
Japanese must be big fans.
Remember when I pretended I was going to kill you?
I bet you think I'm trying to use reverse psychology on you; well, I'm not.
Don't do it! Okay, go ahead, do it.
Are you still there?
And believe me I am still alive!
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