(KGTV) — Every New Year's Eve, there's one thing humans look forward to and canines dread: Fireworks.
And the threat to our four-legged friends is real, as thousands of dogs disappear from homes every year on holidays like New Year's Eve and the Fourth of July due to fireworks.
Enter Ford's prototype noise-canceling dog kennel. The kennel uses the same technology found in vehicles and headphones in order to protect dogs' sensitive ears from fireworks that could cause them to panic.
Here's how it works: Microphones inside the kennel detect the sound of a firework and then omit an opposing frequency to cancel out the noise or reduce it almost entirely. The walls of the kennel are designed using high-density cork in order to add another degree of silence.
The result is a futuristic-looking kennel that keeps canines content amid the "booms" and "crackles" of fireworks:
The prototype was inspired by some of the cabin technology Ford employs in its own vehicle designs.
“We wondered how the technologies we use in our cars could be applied to help in other situations. Could dogs enjoy quieter New Year’s Eve celebrations through the application of our Active Noise Control system? We have a few more ideas in progress as to how our everyday lives might benefit from a little Ford know-how,” said Lyn West, brand content manager, Marketing Communications, Ford of Europe.
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Of course, while the kennel is a mere prototype, that doesn't mean the idea can't be deployed on a larger scale.
Soundproofing dogs crates have gained their own DIY following online and their are already products available online. This may, however, be the first time an automotive manufacturer has taken the technology we use on a daily basis and applied it on a smaller, more adorable scale.
