This futuristic Ford kennel blocks out the sound of the soaring fir tree

(Pocket-lint) – When fireworks light up the sky during the holiday season, it’s not uncommon for our pets to be terrified of the bright lights and loud explosions. But now, thanks to Ford Motor Company, a fix might be on the way.

Imagine it’s New Year’s Eve and the clock strikes midnight. As the fireworks burst through the air, you watch your poor pup shrink into the nearest corner and yelp. It’s a terrible feeling as a pet owner, but it’s a common problem. Forty-five per cent of dogs in the UK show signs of anxiety when they hear the sound of fireworks exploding in the sky. But no one wants to see their dog whining and being scared.

Ford Motor Company, however, has a solution. He unveiled a noise-canceling doghouse concept. The idea is inspired by noise-canceling technology developed and introduced by Ford in its Edge SUV to provide passengers with a quieter ride. It worked so well that Ford wondered how it could be applied to other facets of everyday life. In this case, it’s about applying technology to dogs and their fear of fireworks.

Microphones placed inside this kennel can detect the sound of fireworks. Once they do, an audio system deploys opposing frequencies to cancel out or drastically reduce the sounds of fireworks. We hope it can also be used with other noises that our dogs can’t stand, like vacuuming. Although the kennel is only a prototype for now, it seems like a great answer for dog owners who have very anxious pets.

It is also the first prototype of a new initiative launched by Ford, called Interventions. The goal is to try to find the common problems that people regularly face and apply Ford’s own automotive brand to find a solution with the technology it is currently deploying in vehicles. We’ll be sure to update as soon as we hear anything new about the availability of this noise kennel.

Written by Maggie Tillman.