TorrentFreak Email Update

World’s First Flying File-Sharing Drones in Action

Posted: 20 Mar 2012 02:38 PM PDT

picture of a drone In an ever-continuing effort to thwart censorship, The Pirate Bay plans to turn flying drones into mobile hosting locations.

"Everyone knows WHAT TPB is. Now they're going to have to think about WHERE TPB is," The Pirate Bay team told TorrentFreak last Sunday, announcing their drone project.

Liam Young, co-founder of Tomorrow’s Thoughts Today, was amazed to read the announcement, not so much because of the technology, because his group has already built a swarm of file-sharing drones.

“I thought hold on, we are already doing that,” Young told TorrentFreak.

Their starting point for project “Electronic Countermeasures” was to create something akin to an ‘aerial Napster’ or ‘airborne Pirate Bay’, but it became much more than that.

“Part nomadic infrastructure and part robotic swarm, we have rebuilt and programmed the drones to broadcast their own local Wi-Fi network as a form of aerial Napster. They swarm into formation, broadcasting their pirate network, and then disperse, escaping detection, only to reform elsewhere,” says the group describing their creation.

File-Sharing Drone in Action (photo by Claus Langer)

picture of a sharing drone

In short the system allows the public to share data with the help of flying drones. Much like the Pirate Box, but one that flies autonomously over the city.

“The public can upload files, photos and share data with one another as the drones float above the significant public spaces of the city. The swarm becomes a pirate broadcast network, a mobile infrastructure that passers-by can interact with,” the creators explain.

One major difference compared to more traditional file-sharing hubs is that it requires a hefty investment. Each of the drones costs 1500 euros to build. Not a big surprise, considering the hardware that’s needed to keep these pirate hubs in the air.

“Each one is powered by 2x 2200mAh LiPo batteries. The lift is provided by 4x Roxxy Brushless Motors that run off a GPS flight control board. Also on deck are altitude sensors and gyros that keep the flight stable. They all talk to a master control system through XBee wireless modules,” Young told TorrentFreak.

“These all sit on a 10mm x 10mm aluminum frame and are wrapped in a vacuum formed aerodynamic cowling. The network is broadcast using various different hardware setups ranging from Linux gumstick modules, wireless routers and USB sticks for file storage.”

For Young and his crew this is just the beginning. With proper financial support they hope to build more drones and increase the range they can cover.

“We are planning on scaling up the system by increasing broadcast range and building more drones for the flock. We are also building in other systems like autonomous battery change bases. We are looking for funding and backers to assist us in scaling up the system,” he told us.

Those who see the drones in action (video below) will notice that they’re not just practical. The creative and artistic background of the group shines through, with the choreography performed by the drones perhaps even more stunning than the sharing component.

“When the audience interacts with the drones they glow with vibrant colors, they break formation, they are called over and their flight pattern becomes more dramatic and expressive,” the group explains.

Besides the artistic value, the drones can also have other use cases than being a “pirate hub.” For example, they can serve as peer-to-peer communications support for protesters and activists in regions where Internet access is censored.

Either way, whether it’s Hollywood or a dictator, there will always be groups that have a reason to shoot the machines down. But let’s be honest, who would dare to destroy such a beautiful piece of art?

Worlds First File-Sharing Drone

Source: World’s First Flying File-Sharing Drones in Action

Pirate Bay Founders To Spend Sentences In Three Separate Jails

Posted: 20 Mar 2012 06:27 AM PDT

Yesterday it was revealed that Carl Lundström, the millionaire businessman who provided structural support for a fledgling Pirate Bay through his company Rix Telecom/Port80, will be spending his 4 month ‘jail’ sentence in the community.

Along with Pirate Bay founders Fredrik Neij, Peter Sunde and Gottfrid Svartholm, Lundström had previously found guilty of copyright infringement offenses in connection with the operations of The Pirate Bay.

Now it has been revealed Neij (TiAMO), Sunde (brokep) and Svartholm (Anakata) will be serving their sentences in three separate ‘Category 2′ prisons.

“We have three levels of security and we have put them in institutions with normal security,” Helena Lundberg, Chief Officer of Probation, told DN.

Fredrik Neij will spend 10 months in Kirseberg prison in Malmö, Sweden. The prison first came into operation during 1914 and has a capacity of 131 inmates and around 170 staff.

Gottfrid Svartholm will spend 1 year in Mariefred prison roughly 65 km from Stockholm. Built in 1958, it has a capacity of 112 inmates and 90 staff. Having previously spent time in Cambodia, Svartholm’s current location is unknown prompting speculation from Peter Sunde that he may even be dead.

Former Pirate Bay spokesman Peter Sunde has been told he will spend his 8 month sentence in Västervik Norra. Converted from a hospital over the last 7 years, this facility has 262 inmates and 250 staff.

However, for Sunde this may not be his ultimate fate. His lawyer, Peter Althin, has hinted that there may be an appeal of some kind in the coming months.

“I won’t go into it right now but it will come in the spring, we hope. It is our goal that [Sunde] will not have to sit out the sentence,” said Althin.

In addition to their jail sentences, all four convicted individuals are liable to pay their share of 46 million kronor ($6.78m) in damages. While the authorities have managed to find 225,000 kronor ($33,149) of Lundström’s money, investigations have turned up nothing in the names of Neij, Sunde and Svartholm.

The promise all along from the trio was that no matter what happened to them, two things would happen. First, that Hollywood and IFPI wouldn’t get a penny and second, The Pirate Bay would keep on going regardless.

Jail sentences aside, it looks like mission accomplished.

Source: Pirate Bay Founders To Spend Sentences In Three Separate Jails