Tilta Hydra Alien Pro Electronic Mounting Kit - V Mount

The Hydra Alien Pro Electronic Mounting Kit holds a gimbal on a moving car. The shock absorbing arm with electromagnetic damping carries 4 to 13 kg and its resistance is set on a 0 to 100 scale, on the OLED screen or remotely. Five 4.5″ electronic suction cups grip in five seconds and then watch the pressure themselves — a sensor reads it a thousand times per second. The kit includes dovetail plates, two 19 mm rods, two V-Mount power modules and two transport cases.

Suction cups and dovetail plates straight onto the bodywork

This kit attaches the arm straight onto the vehicle. Dovetail plates, an extension bracket and two 19 mm rods build up on the hood, the flank, the rear or the corner of the car; five 4.5″ electronic suction cups hold them — three with a dovetail mount and two with a 19 mm rod mount. Retractable safety pins at every position on the plate keep the arm from sliding.

Low, high, from the front and from the rear

Tilta describes five basic configurations: front-end side, rear, car hood, side mounting and Speed Rail. The sliding seat on the dovetail plate lets you fine-tune the position by centimetres without taking the rig apart. The arm meets the gimbal through a Manfrotto quick-release plate, the supplied DJI Ronin 2 adapter, M5 and M6 threads or 1/4″-20 and 3/8″-16.

The second generation of the Hydra mount

Tilta rates the mount 50% more stable than the first-generation Alien, with the side-to-side sway at speed gone. Suction cups and dovetail plates form a wide base that spreads the load across several points of the bodywork instead of one, leaving the arm nothing to swing around.

Electronic suction cups that watch themselves

The 4.5″ electronic suction cup grips in five seconds and then keeps an eye on the pressure by itself: a sensor reads it a thousand times per second and the moment air starts to leak, a quiet pump tops the vacuum back up. The built-in battery runs eight to twelve hours on a charge, so there is no hand pumping between takes.

A steady image even at 120 km/h

Tilta tested the system up to 120 km/h. The hybrid damping in the arm combines three principles: a pneumatic chamber for smooth vertical travel, a fluid reservoir for sharp jolts and coil springs for slow vibration. The camera stays steady even on broken tarmac, and the shot often needs no further stabilisation in postproduction.

An arm with electromagnetic damping

Damping resistance is set on a 0–100 scale in two ways: by touch on the OLED screen on the arm itself, or remotely with the optional Nucleus Nano II handle at up to a hundred metres. The screen shows battery voltage, the selected payload mode and the current damping value. Firmware updates over USB-C.

Swappable damping blocks

The kit includes damping blocks in two stiffnesses — softer for light rigs, harder for heavy ones. Swapping them takes a couple of minutes, so the arm matches whatever is hanging on it. The blocks kill high-frequency vibration that neither the spring nor the fluid damper catches on its own; eight pieces of the lightweight version are included.

Two cases and off to the airport

The kit travels in two cases with moulded foam. The case with the arm weighs 16 kg with its contents, so one person can carry it. Every part has its own cut-out in the foam, so after the shoot you see at once whether something is missing; the arm itself folds down to fit.

Three payload modes

The arm works in three modes: light for 4 to 7 kg, medium for 7 to 10 kg and heavy for 10 to 13 kg. Light mode suits DJI RS series gimbals with a mirrorless camera and the Ronin 4D, medium suits the Movi Pro and the DJI Ronin M with a compact cinema camera such as the KOMODO, heavy suits the DJI Ronin 2 and professional cinema cameras. Once paired, the DJI RS 4 Pro, Ronin 4D, Ronin M, Ronin 2 and Movi Pro can be controlled wirelessly.

Power and operation

The arm runs an internal 14.8 V network, so cabling is not solved part by part. Supply voltage is 14.8 to 24 V and maximum power draw 150 W. Two V-Mount power modules are included; the batteries themselves are not. Operating temperature is −20 to 80 °C and the body is aluminium alloy.

Using the suction cups safely

Set the suction cups on a flat, clean surface and keep the weight of the arm balanced over their centre. Extending the arm past the cup and side mounting both raise the risk — there Tilta recommends securing the rig additionally with ratchet straps or safety chains. Always press the cup down firmly when attaching it, so that it is visibly compressed. It can leave a mark on paint, especially in direct sunlight and heat; on a wrapped vehicle Tilta advises against using them at all.

How the two Hydra Alien Pro kits differ

Both kits share the same case with the arm (HDA-T18-SAK-V) and differ in the second case. This one, the electronic kit, holds dovetail plates and five 4.5″ electronic suction cups, so it clamps straight onto the bodywork. The Speed Rail kit (HDA-T18-B-V) instead holds a single 50 mm mounting clamp and assumes you build a Speed Rail tube structure on the vehicle — which is what Tilta recommends for large gimbals such as the Ronin 2.

Manufacturer’s notice

Tilta accepts no liability for damage, injury or legal consequences caused directly or indirectly by the use of this product; by using it you are deemed to have accepted all the terms of the user manual. The Movi Pro adapter is available through custom order from the manufacturer.