CHIBA, Japan >> Weather forecasting company Weathernews Inc. is preparing to ship 1,000 pollen-detecting robots across the nation.

The firm’s Pollen Robo is a spherical device about 6 inches in diameter and roughly designed to resemble a human face. The robot measures pollen levels by ingesting air through its “mouth.” Its “eyes” then change color to indicate the amount of pollen present.

The devices will be placed under the eaves of monitoring sites. Data collected will be used for airborne pollen level forecasts and hay fever research.

According to Weathernews, which is based in Mihama Ward, Chiba, cedar pollen is spreading in parts of the Kanto and Tokai regions, as well as in southern Kyushu. It is expected to reach peak levels in early March.