RFID-Based Solar-Powered Portable Phone Charging Station with Bluetooth-Enabled Android Application and Prepaid Credit Management

The increasing dependence on smartphones has created a growing demand for accessible and reliable charging solutions, particularly in areas where conventional power sources are limited. This study developed an RFID-based, solar-powered, portable phone charging station with a Bluetooth-enabled Android Application and prepaid credit management. The system integrates an Arduino Uno R3 microcontroller, an MFRC522 RFID reader, RFID key fobs, an RFID master card, an HC-05 Bluetooth module, a dual-channel relay module, EEPROM storage, an XY-3606 buck converter connected to a 12V solar panel, a 1-female-to-2-male USB splitter, two rechargeable power banks for energy storage, and two 3-in-1 USB charging cables. A developmental research design was employed to develop, construct, and evaluate the prototype's functionality. Unlike traditional charging stations that require direct user interaction with hardware interfaces, the developed system uses an Android application as the primary control interface, allowing users to manage PIN authentication, account balance, charging rates, charging duration selection, and transaction functions via Bluetooth. The system supports both online balance reloading through PayMongo-generated QR payments and offline charging access using previously stored account credits. In addition, the charging station supports simultaneous charging of two mobile devices through independently controlled charging ports, each with its own timer and charging management process. The RFID key fob serves as the user's authentication method, while the master card enables authorized balance loading. Functional testing was conducted to evaluate RFID authentication, Bluetooth communication, balance management, charging control, timer operation, and phone charging capability. Results showed that the prototype successfully performed prepaid charging operations with automated charging control. The integration of solar-assisted power management and mobile application control demonstrates the system's potential as a portable, sustainable, and user-friendly charging solution for schools, public areas, and other environments requiring controlled charging services.

RFID Authentication, Android Application, Bluetooth Communication, Solar-Powered Charging, Prepaid Credit Management

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