Ford Introduces A High-Tech Dog House With Noise-Cancellation Technology

Pet owners love spoiling their animals and the American Pet Products Association estimates U.S. pet owners will spend a record $72 (£57 / €63.4) billion on their animals this year alone.

Automakers have been paying attention to this trend and a number of them offer a full range of pet-focused accessories for their vehicles. Some companies have gone even further by introducing pet-focused concepts such as the Tiguan Accessories and X-Trail 4Dogs.

Ford of Europe is the latest to embrace this trend, but they’re mixing up the formula by introducing something that isn’t meant for one of their vehicles. Instead, they have unveiled a noise-cancelling dog kennel which is designed to prevent your pup from being afraid of fireworks.

Essentially a tent-shaped dog house, the kennel uses noise-cancellation technology which is similar to that found in cars and headphones. As Ford explained, microphones are mounted inside the kennel and listen to detect the noise of fireworks. When fireworks are heard, a built-in audio system emits “opposing frequencies that, in effect, cancels out the noise completely – or at least reduces it significantly.”

Besides featuring noise cancellation technology, the kennel has high-density cork which acts as an additional layer of sound proofing. The kennel has also been equipped with an automatic door, a soundproof ventilation system and “anti-vibration block risers.”

The kennel is simply a prototype at this stage, but Ford says they got the idea from the noise-cancelling technology that is available in the Edge. While some many wonder why beleaguered Ford of Europe would waste money on a high-tech dog house, the company said its part of their Interventions initiative which seeks to apply “automotive know-how to help solve everyday problems.” Speaking of which, Ford says an estimated 45 percent of dogs in the United Kingdom show signs of fear when they hear fireworks.

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