VEX AIR - Unit 4 - Rolling Along - Lesson 1: Rolling Side to Side

Now that you have practiced using pitch and yaw to move and turn the VEX AIR Drone, you are ready to learn a new type of movement—roll. In this lesson, you will use the VEX AIR Flight Simulator and explore how roll allows the drone to move side to side along the x-axis, while still keeping the drone’s nose pointed forward.

Watch this video to learn more about:

How to use the right joystick to roll left and right
How roll moves the drone along the x-axis in flight
The difference between rolling sideways and yawing to change direction
Why drone orientation matters when choosing how to navigate a space

<< VIDEO HERE >>

Hover and Discover

Roll is the control that moves the drone left and right without turning its nose. A drone rolls when the propellers on one side spin faster than the propellers on the opposite side. This speed difference tilts the drone sideways, causing it to slide left or right along the x-axis.

When the propellers on the right side spin faster, they push harder against the air, lifting that side and tilting the drone to the left. This makes the drone move left across the field.

When the propellers on the left side spin faster, the drone tilts to the right and slides in that direction.

Two drones shown top down side by side. On the left drone, the right two propellers are highlighted and an arrow below indicates left movement if those highlighted propellers were spinning faster. On the right drone, the left two propellers are highlighted and an arrow below indicates right movement if those highlighted propellers were spinning faster.

Because the nose stays pointed forward during roll, you can move sideways without changing the direction the nose is pointed. This differs from yaw, which rotates the drone to face a new direction. Understanding the difference between rolling and yawing helps pilots decide when to move sideways and when to turn before flying.

Mission: Rolling Through Blue

In this mission, you will use roll to move the drone sideways across the field while keeping the nose pointed forward. Follow these steps to complete your mission:

Connect your controller to VEXcode AIR and select the Simulator tab. Refer to the Flight Simulator article as needed.
Fly the drone to take off, then roll left to fly through the first blue ring. Return to the takeoff location, then roll right to fly through the second blue ring as shown in this video:
<<screen recording here>>
Use the Mission Log to document your flight (Google Doc / .docx / .pdf). Record how roll felt compared to yaw and pitch.

Practice this mission multiple times! Rolling may feel different than other movements at first, but focusing on gradual improvement will help you build confidence.

Real-World Connections

Drone pilots often need to move sideways while keeping the camera or sensors pointed in a specific direction. Because roll keeps the drone’s orientation steady, it is especially useful for tasks where the pilot must maintain a consistent forward-facing view.

For example:

Building and infrastructure inspections: Pilots roll side to side to align with windows, beams, or cracks without turning the drone away from the structure.
Safety operations: In grid searches or patrols, pilots roll laterally to scan an area systematically while staying oriented in the same direction.
Sports and event coverage: Camera operators can follow players down the field while rolling left or right to adjust their shot without changing the drone’s heading.

Drone lined up to a fire holding a fire extinguisher

Check Your Understanding

Select Next > to move on to the following lesson.