ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Orbcomm

Orbcomm is like a magic box that helps people communicate with things that are far away, like trucks, boats, and even animals!

You know how when you talk to someone on the phone, your words travel through the air and into the phone, and then they go through wires and satellites until they reach the other person's phone? Orbcomm works kind of like that, but instead of people talking, it's machines sending and receiving information.

For example, let's say a company has a bunch of trucks that drive all over the country delivering things. They want to make sure they know where each truck is at all times and that each truck is driving safely, so they put an Orbcomm device in each truck. This device uses special technology to send and receive signals to and from a network of satellites that orbit the Earth. Through this network, the company can track the location and speed of each truck, and they can even monitor things like how much gas each truck has left and how many miles it's driven.

Orbcomm can also be used to help boats communicate with each other and with people on land. For example, if a boat is in distress and needs help, it can send a signal through an Orbcomm device that will alert the coast guard or other authorities.

And sometimes, researchers use Orbcomm to track animals! They attach a special device to the animal, like a collar or a tag, and then they can use the Orbcomm network to see where the animal goes and what it does. This is really helpful for scientists who want to study things like migration patterns or behavior.

So, in summary, Orbcomm is a special technology that lets machines communicate with each other over long distances using satellites. It's used for things like tracking trucks and boats, monitoring wildlife, and helping people in emergency situations.