DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A SUSTAINABLE BLUETOOTH-CONTROLLED LED MATRIX SCOREBOARD FOR REAL-TIME SPORTS APPLICATIONS

This study presents the design and experimental performance evaluation of a sustainable Bluetooth-controlled Light Emitting Diode (LED) matrix scoreboard developed for real time sporting events in university environments. The system was designed to address common limitations of conventional scoreboards, including unreliable grid power, high maintenance requirements, and elevated operational costs. It comprises four P4 64×32 RGB LED panels driven by an ESP32 microcontroller for Bluetooth communication and an Arduino Nano for display control, synchronized with a DS3231 real time clock module. Power is supplied by four 18650 lithium ion batteries connected in parallel and regulated through a charge and discharge control module, while solar input enhances energy sustainability and reduces grid dependence. Experimental evaluation included Bluetooth connectivity tests conducted at 10 meter intervals in indoor and outdoor environments to assess connection stability and data accuracy, and battery performance tests involving charge and discharge cycles with voltage readings taken at 30 minute and 60 minute intervals respectively. Results showed stable Bluetooth operation up to 25 meters indoors and 20 meters outdoors, with the battery attaining full charge in 4.5 hours via AC mains and 6.5 hours under solar input, supporting approximately 50 minutes of continuous operation per cycle. The findings confirm that the scoreboard offers a portable, energy efficient, and reliable solution for university sports applications, providing a practical model for sustainable and replicable smart campus infrastructure.