Wow. I didn't actually expect this to work nearly as well as it has. Apparently cardboard + paperclips + solder + servo = working rudders!

So here's the thing. For the longest time, I had wanted to make rudders for the hovercraft. The problem with this is that this would introduce a custom mechanical component to the design that would require replacement if it failed (trying to keep the design as simple and straightforward as possible; KISS). Unfortunately, I've reached the point where I'm short on time and I don't think I'll have the time to get the EDF thrust non-linearity issue (from way back) sorted out in time. I would much rather be able to set a speed for both EDFs, and simply interact with the rudder angle, getting rid of a variable from the control problem (two EDFs vs one servo).

So now that that was decided, it's time to figure out how to make one, without much time left. Because this part would be under constant actuation, I needed to make sure it would hold up, make sure it would be sturdy, but also needed it to be cheap and easy to duplicate. It's the trifecta problem: cheap, fast, good. Pick two.

This is where an old problem became a most WONDERFUL solution. Early in the project when I started using cardboard, I noted that its main issue was its perforation. There was no way for me to create an air chamber to use for hovering, without closing off the perforations with tape, due to the way I was constructing the hovercraft. The rudder design I was able to come up with, actually takes advantage of these perforations for structural support.