Rolleron

Rollerons on the trailing edge of the fins of the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile
Detail of a rolleron on a Sidewinder
Rollerons on the fins of the K-13 missile

A rolleron is a type of aileron used for rockets and used to provide passive stabilization against rotation. While most commonly used to stabilize against roll, it can also be used for counteracting yaw and pitch as well.[1]

In the early 1950s, the first rollerons were produced. Its value for the dynamic stabilization of missiles led to it being promptly studied by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). It proved to be a more compact, simpler, and reliable solution to controlling roll than preceding methods, such as the combination of servomechanisms and ailerons. Rolleron devices have been widely used on maneuverable close-range air-to-air missiles, such as the prolific AIM-9 Sidewinder. Rocket vehicles have also become another common application.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference rolldyanamics 1999 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).