A car maker has innovated thunder-protection for pets; Ford’s European unit designed a special kennel that insulates pets from loud noises outside, whether it be fireworks or thunder.
This week in Las Vegas, Nevada, CES2020 kicks off. The annual consumer electronics show showcases new innovations from automotive to healthcare, from computing to dishwashers, from robots to drones. At CES2019, IBM used the venue to unveil a new computer weather forecast model while other companies showcased the latest in weather tech.
Some new technology unveiled this week is the result of “cross-over science” in which an application from one industry is applied to another. One such example of cross-over science is with the noise-cancelling kennel Ford unveiled some time ago.
The idea was inspired by the noise-cancelling technology that Ford has introduced to the Edge SUV, that helps to ensure quieter journeys for drivers and passengers. When microphones pick up high levels of noise from the engine or transmission, this is counteracted using opposing sound waves from the car’s audio system. “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. While the kennel was just developed in prototype form, Ford says it was the first in a series of Ford initiatives – called Interventions – that applies automotive know-how to help solve everyday problems.
By sampling outside noises like thunder, speakers inside the kennel would emit inverse sound waves, cancelling most of the “boom” in the process. The kennel generates a sound that’s phase-inverted by 180 degrees to the unwanted noise, resulting in the two sounds cancelling each other out.
