Phonon Systems iconPhonon Systems
Autonomous vehicle, trailer and mobile robots on a bridge

Localising underground leaks from the surface.

Phonon Systems is developing a mobile acoustic survey system for water networks. The system combines surface-contact sensing, measured sensor geometry and onboard correlation to turn leak noise into a practical location for field teams.

Discuss a pilot See the concept
Concept video

A route to automated leak localisation.

The goal is a repeatable survey workflow: move to a measurement point, place sensors on the surface, record, localise, store the evidence and move on.

Why this matters

Leak detection still relies on too much manual pinpointing.

Network monitoring can identify likely problem areas, but field teams often still need a second manual sweep with ground microphones and listening sticks before excavation. Phonon is aimed at shortening that route from survey to dig decision.

System direction

A mobile measured-geometry acoustic array.

A reference vehicle or trailer carries a known set of surface-contact acoustic sensors. Separately movable sensor platforms can be positioned on the pavement, verge or footpath. The system measures the live geometry of the array, records synchronised acoustic data and runs the localisation process onboard.

Surface-contact sensing

Measurements are taken from the road or pavement surface, avoiding the need to access valves, hydrants or pipe fittings at every survey location.

Measured geometry

The system knows where the movable sensors are at the time of each recording, so the array can be flexible rather than manually laid out as a fixed test rig.

Onboard processing

Correlation, localisation and decision support can run locally on the vehicle or trailer, with results stored for review or transmitted when connectivity is available.

Prototype status

Core measurement chain demonstrated.

Phonon has demonstrated the key acoustic measurement chain in prototype form: distributed wireless nodes, synchronised recording, real-time correlation and X/Y source localisation. The next stage is utility-partner field validation on live water-network assets.

Patent pendingUK patent application GB2616123.2 filed by Phonon Systems Limited.
Sub-ms syncSynchronised multi-node acquisition demonstrated in a working prototype.
Edge computeCorrelation and localisation are designed to run on the vehicle/trailer, not depend on cloud processing.
Pilot readySeeking water-company and engineering partners for controlled field trials.
Who we want to work with

Built for water utilities, mobility partners and infrastructure investors.

Water companies

Run controlled pilots on known leak areas, hard-to-pinpoint leaks or comparison routes against existing acoustic workflows.

  • Surface-based survey output
  • Stored audio and photo context
  • Location record for repair crews

Automation partners

Phonon is not building a self-driving stack. It is a sensing and localisation layer that can be integrated with existing road and pavement mobility platforms.

  • Useful overnight workload
  • Attachable sensing payload
  • Local processing and offline operation

Investors and grant funders

The approach is capital-efficient: specialist sensing, software and workflow automation built around existing mobility and water-sector infrastructure.

  • UK patent pending
  • Clear environmental benefit
  • Scalable survey model

Any named mobility platforms discussed by Phonon are potential integration targets only; no partnership is implied unless separately announced.

Representative mobility platforms

Designed to sit on top of existing autonomy, not replace it.

Phonon is intended as a specialist sensing and localisation payload for established road and pavement mobility platforms. The examples below are illustrative target platform categories only.

Illustration representing a Tesla-style road vehicle platform

Tesla

High-volume road vehicles with potential unused overnight survey capacity.

Illustration representing a Waymo-style robotaxi platform

Waymo

Robotaxi-style autonomy suited to repeatable urban routes and scheduled survey operation.

Illustration representing a Zoox-style autonomous mobility platform

Zoox

Purpose-built autonomous mobility platforms for structured urban coverage.

Illustration representing an AV Ride-style autonomous platform

AV Ride

Existing autonomy platforms that could carry or coordinate specialist infrastructure sensors.

Illustration representing a Starship-style delivery robot

Starship

Compact pavement robot formats suited to low-speed surface inspection and sensor positioning.

These are examples of integration targets and platform types only. No commercial relationship, endorsement or partnership is implied.

Where this goes next

From prototype to field trial.

The immediate goal is not a full fleet. It is a focused pilot with the right utility partner: validate field acoustics, prove repeatability, compare against existing workflows and generate evidence that repair teams can use.

Phonon is designed to move leak detection away from expensive fixed infrastructure and toward mobile, surface-based, direct localisation.