Method for illuminating a vehicle and lighting arrangement

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for illuminating a vehicle (100), comprising the following method steps: A) Starting an unmanned aerial vehicle (102) associated with the vehicle (100), B) Activating a headlight (104) of the vehicle (100) and positioning a movable deflector (106) in the beam path of the headlight (104), C) Selecting an illumination area (108), D) Moving the unmanned aerial vehicle (102) to an illumination position above or next to the vehicle (100), E) Deflecting at least part of the beam path of the headlight (104) onto a reflector (110) of the unmanned aerial vehicle (102), F) Illuminating the illumination area (108) by reflection through the reflector (110). The invention further relates to a lighting arrangement (114) and a vehicle (100) with an unmanned aerial vehicle (102) associated with the vehicle (100).

Description

The invention relates to a method for illuminating a vehicle or an area adjacent to a vehicle. This illumination can be used, for example, when maintenance or repair work needs to be carried out on the vehicle in darkness. In the method, the beam path of a headlight of the vehicle is first deflected by a deflecting element to an unmanned aerial vehicle belonging to the vehicle. This beam path is then directed by a reflecting element arranged on the unmanned aerial vehicle onto the desired illumination area. The invention further relates to a lighting arrangement and a vehicle with an unmanned aerial vehicle. Vehicles are equipped with a variety of lighting devices that are used while driving or to assist the vehicle's occupants with tasks inside the vehicle. However, conventional lighting devices are limited to specific areas within or on the vehicle. Some areas of the vehicle, or adjacent to the vehicle, cannot be adequately illuminated by conventional lighting devices. For example, if a tire blows out in the dark, the area on the exterior of the vehicle where the tire is located and where the necessary tire change must be performed is usually not illuminated. US 10,501,005 B2 describes a lighting system for a vehicle. In this lighting system, a light source mounted on the vehicle is redirected to a reflector mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle. The light emitted by the light source is reflected by the reflector into the vehicle's surroundings. The lighting system is designed to alert the vehicle's driver to specific objects in the vehicle's vicinity. Furthermore, the lighting system can be used to project letters or words into the vehicle's surroundings to assist the driver. German patent application DE 10 2018 203 084 B3 describes a vehicle that interacts with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in such a way that a light source mounted on the vehicle can be used to charge an energy storage device of the UAV. For this purpose, light from the light source is deflected via a deflecting element to the UAV and directed there onto a solar cell array to charge the energy storage device. DE 11 2016 007 456 B4 describes a computer and a method for using an aerial drone. The aerial drone includes a light which is used to illuminate objects in the vicinity of the vehicle in order to draw the driver's attention to these objects in a special way. The object of the invention is to propose solutions that enable the illumination of a large number of areas on and around a vehicle. These solutions should also allow for a longer illumination duration in these areas. The problem is solved by a method with the features of claim 1, by a lighting arrangement with the features of claim 7, and by a vehicle with the features of claim 9. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. The inventive method for illuminating a vehicle or an area adjacent to a vehicle comprises the following steps: A) Starting an unmanned aerial vehicle associated with the vehicle and moving the unmanned aerial vehicle to a position above or beside the vehicle, B) Activating a headlight of the vehicle, which is provided for illuminating a roadway in front of the vehicle, and positioning a movable deflector in the beam path of the headlight, C) Selecting an illumination area on or adjacent to the vehicle, D) Moving the unmanned aerial vehicle to an illumination position above or beside the vehicle, wherein the illumination position is a position at which a reflective element arranged on the unmanned aerial vehicle is in direct line of sight to the deflector and to the illumination area.E) Deflecting at least part of the headlight beam onto the reflector of the unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the deflector is moved relative to the headlight, the headlight beam running horizontally between a horizontal plane and a plane inclined downwards to the horizontal plane, and the headlight beam being deflected by the deflector at an acute angle to this beam; F) Illuminating the illumination area, wherein the illumination area is illuminated by reflection of at least part of the beam deflected by the deflector through the reflector, the reflector being moved relative to the headlight beam deflected by the deflector and relative to the illumination area, the selection of the illumination area in process step C) being carried out by a user of the vehicle.the selection of the lighting area is made via an input device. In the method according to the invention, light generated by a headlight of the vehicle is deflected twice in order to illuminate a previously selected area on or adjacent to the vehicle. The light is deflected first by a deflecting element arranged on the vehicle and a second time by a reflecting element arranged on an unmanned aerial vehicle. In the first process step A), an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is launched and moved into the air above or alongside the vehicle. The UAV is equipped with a control system, and the vehicle is also equipped with a control system. During the UAV's movement, data is exchanged between the vehicle's control system and the UAV's control system. When not in use, the UAV can be stored, for example, in a roof box on the vehicle. In a second process step B), a headlight located on or in the vehicle is activated so that it produces light. The light exits the headlight along a beam path. The beam path is understood to be the area illuminated by the headlight. The beam path can, for example, have the shape of a cone that increases in size with increasing distance from the headlight. The term beam path is used below to refer to the area filled with light. Furthermore, a deflecting element is positioned in the beam path of the headlight. The deflecting element preferably has a reflective surface so that at least part of the headlight's beam path is deflected or reflected by the deflecting element. The deflecting element is movably arranged relative to the headlight and / or the beam path on the vehicle. In a third process step C), the desired lighting area on or adjacent to the vehicle is selected. This can be done, for example, by a user of the vehicle. For instance, a lighting area behind the vehicle can be selected if a user has lost an object in the dark and wants to find it again with the help of a light. Process steps A) to C) can also be carried out simultaneously. In a fourth process step D), the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is moved to an illumination position. The illumination position is a position that has direct line of sight to both the deflector and the illumination area. Direct line of sight means that no objects are located between the reflective element on the UAV, the deflector, and the illumination area. With direct line of sight, light can be reflected or emitted unimpeded between these three elements. The illumination position depends on the previously selected illumination area. In the example described above, where an area behind the vehicle is to be illuminated, the illumination position of the UAV could, for instance, be a position above and behind the vehicle.If a lighting area next to the vehicle was previously selected, the illumination position can be above and to the side of the vehicle. In a further process step E), at least a portion of the headlight's beam path is deflected by the deflecting element onto the reflector of the unmanned aerial vehicle located at the illumination position. For this purpose, the deflecting element is moved relative to the headlight and the beam path, for example, rotated or shifted. In a further process step F), the beam path deflected by the deflecting element to the unmanned aerial vehicle is again deflected by the reflecting element into the selected illumination area. For this purpose, the reflecting element is moved relative to the beam path deflected by the deflecting element until the selected illumination area is illuminated by reflection of the beam path from the deflecting element through the reflecting element. The method according to the invention is preferably carried out continuously. Therefore, it is also possible that the selected illumination area will change during the procedure. In this case, the unmanned aerial vehicle will be moved to a different illumination position. The method according to the invention has the advantage that, through the interaction of the deflecting element and the reflective element arranged on the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), all areas on or adjacent to the vehicle can be illuminated. This allows, for example, lighting to be provided for carrying out all maintenance or repair work. Furthermore, the lighting can, of course, also be used for other applications, such as for convenient loading and unloading of the vehicle. In the method according to the invention, the light output for the illumination is provided by at least one headlight of the vehicle. Only a reflection occurs at the UAV, meaning that the UAV's energy storage system is not burdened for lighting purposes.The flight time of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is therefore not reduced for the purpose of providing lighting and is thus significantly longer than with lighting that requires energy from the UAV's energy storage system. Therefore, the method according to the invention can also provide lighting over a longer period. Furthermore, the UAV can perform other tasks, such as transmitting images to the vehicle. Moreover, in cases where the vehicle also uses an UAV for other applications, the method according to the invention can be used with only minor modifications to the UAV, thereby improving the overall functionality of the vehicle-UAV system. In one embodiment, the deflecting element is mounted so that it can be rotated and / or linearly displaced relative to the beam path of the headlight. In process step E), the deflecting element is rotated and / or linearly displaced relative to the beam path of the headlight, whereby the deflected portion of the headlight's beam path is aligned with the reflecting element. In process step E), a portion of the headlight's beam path is guided by the deflecting element to the reflecting element on the unmanned aerial vehicle. For this purpose, the deflecting element can be rotated, pivoted, or moved linearly relative to the headlight's beam path. This movement of the deflecting element can also be dynamic and follow the position of the reflecting element on the unmanned aerial vehicle.The deflection element's mobility is necessary because the unmanned aerial vehicle's (UAV) position varies depending on the selected illumination area. Furthermore, weather conditions, such as wind, may temporarily cause the UAV to deviate from its previously set illumination position. In this case, the deflection element is adjusted so that the deflected portion of the beam path always hits the reflector on the UAV. The deflection element can be mounted in front of the spotlight so that it can move freely. Alternatively, the deflection element can also be formed by a component inside the spotlight or within the spotlight housing. In one embodiment, the deflecting element and / or the reflecting element has a reflective surface or is formed by a lens. The deflecting element and the reflecting element are designed to reflect or deflect light from the headlight. For this purpose, these elements can be designed, for example, as a planar mirror or a parabolic mirror. Alternatively, these elements can be formed by a lens or include a lens configured to deflect light by refraction. Furthermore, the deflecting element and / or the reflecting element can be formed by a combination of a refractive lens and a reflective surface. According to the invention, the beam path of the headlight runs horizontally between a horizontal plane and a plane inclined downwards to the horizontal plane, and the beam path of the headlight is deflected by the deflecting element at an acute angle to this beam path. Optionally, the beam path deflected by the deflecting element to the reflecting element can be reflected at an acute angle from the reflecting element to the illumination area. The vehicle's headlight is a headlight which, when not used in the inventive method, is intended to illuminate the road in front of the vehicle. Such a headlight has a high radiant power. The beam path of such a headlight is typically directed obliquely downwards from the horizontal plane in the direction of travel. This beam path can be deflected at an acute angle by the deflecting element.For this purpose, a deflecting element designed as a parabolic mirror can be used, for example. Deflection at an acute angle has the advantage that a beam path from the headlight directed in the direction of travel can also be deflected against the direction of travel in order to illuminate an area behind the vehicle after reflection by the reflector. For the same reason, the beam path running from the deflecting element to the reflector can also be reflected by the reflector at an acute angle. In this way, illumination of all areas on and adjacent to the vehicle is possible. Of course, the deflecting element and the reflector can also deflect the beam path at a 90° angle or at an obtuse angle. According to the invention, the selection of the lighting area in process step D) is made by a vehicle user via an input device. Preferably, the vehicle user selects the lighting area. This allows the user to individually select the appropriate lighting area according to the desired application. The user can make the selection via an input device, which, for example, has a graphical user interface for selecting a lighting area. The input device can be mobile and, for example, integrated into a mobile phone. Alternatively or additionally, an input device can be located in or on the vehicle or integrated into a vehicle input device that also performs other functions. Alternatively, a lighting area can also be selected automatically by the vehicle.For example, in an automatically generated damage diagnosis, a lighting area can be automatically selected to illuminate the section of the vehicle where the damage was diagnosed. This automatically guides the vehicle's user to the location of the damage. In one embodiment, at least one predefined lighting area is provided when selecting the lighting area. To facilitate operation of the input device, at least one predefined lighting area can be offered for selection. Such a predefined lighting area could, for example, encompass the vehicle's trunk and facilitate loading or unloading in the dark. It is also possible to provide several predefined lighting areas for selection, which could, for example, be arranged at regular intervals around the vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, it can be provided that an individual lighting area can be selected, for example, by tapping or circling a specific area on a graphical user interface of the input device. In one embodiment, the illumination position is calculated based on the selected illumination area, the position of the deflector, and the vehicle's dimensions. Alternatively, if at least one predefined illumination area is provided, a defined illumination position is assigned to each predefined illumination area. The illumination position is a position where the reflector on the unmanned aerial vehicle has a clear line of sight to both the deflector and the selected illumination area. A possible illumination position can be calculated based on known geometric data regarding the position of the deflector, the position of the headlight, the position of the illumination area, and the vehicle's external dimensions.This calculation involves an optimization process that ensures the doubly reflected portion of the headlight's beam path is not obstructed by any obstacle. If at least one predefined illumination area is provided, a specific illumination position of the unmanned aerial vehicle can be assigned to it. Such a defined illumination position can, for example, be stored in the lighting control system's memory and assigned to the respective predefined illumination area. In one embodiment, it is provided that in process step F) the reflective element is fixedly mounted on the unmanned aircraft and moved by a movement of the entire unmanned aircraft, or the reflective element is movably mounted on the unmanned aircraft and moved by a relative movement of the reflective element relative to the rest of the unmanned aircraft. The reflective element can be fixedly connected to the rest of the unmanned aircraft. In this case, movement of the reflective element is caused by a movement of the entire unmanned aircraft. For example, the drives of the unmanned aircraft can be controlled accordingly. Alternatively, the reflective element can be movably mounted relative to the rest of the unmanned aircraft.In this case, the reflective element can be positioned by rotating, swiveling or moving it so that the illumination area is lit by the reflected beam path. The lighting arrangement according to the invention serves to illuminate a vehicle or an area adjacent to a vehicle and comprises: - at least one headlight arranged on a vehicle, which is provided for illuminating a roadway in front of the vehicle, - at least one deflecting element, which is connected to the vehicle and is arranged to be positionable and movable in the beam path of the headlight, - at least one reflecting element, which is arranged on an unmanned aerial vehicle associated with the vehicle, - at least one input device, which is provided and configured for the selection of an illumination area by a user, - at least one lighting control unit, which is connected via a data connection to a control unit of the vehicle, a control unit of the unmanned aerial vehicle and the input device, wherein the lighting control unit is configured toto carry out a procedure according to one of the embodiments described above. The lighting arrangement according to the invention is arranged in sections on a vehicle, for example a motor vehicle, and in sections on an unmanned aerial vehicle associated with the vehicle. A headlight is arranged on the vehicle, which emits light in a beam path as needed. Furthermore, a deflecting element is arranged on the vehicle, which can be positioned and moved within the beam path of the headlight. A reflective element belonging to the lighting arrangement is arranged on the unmanned aerial vehicle. An input device is also provided, which enables a user of the vehicle to select a lighting area. The input device can be designed as a mobile device, belong to the vehicle, or be integrated into it.A lighting control unit serves to control the lighting arrangement and is connected via a data link, for example a radio link, to a control unit of the vehicle and a control unit of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Furthermore, a data link exists between the input device and the lighting control unit. The lighting control unit is configured to execute a method according to one of the embodiments described above. Thus, the lighting arrangement according to the invention enables simple and reliable illumination of a multitude of areas on and around the vehicle. The advantages, advantageous embodiments, and effects mentioned above in connection with the method also apply to the lighting arrangement according to the invention. In one embodiment of the lighting arrangement, the deflecting element can be positioned in the beam path of the headlight in a working position and removed from the beam path in a non-working position. In the non-working position, the deflecting element can be retracted, at least partially, into a body component of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the deflecting element can be positioned and moved in the beam path in front of or within the headlight in a working position. The working position is set when the lighting procedure is to be carried out. This is usually the case when the vehicle is stationary. Additionally, it is possible to move the deflecting element into a non-working position, for example, when the vehicle is moving. In the non-working position, the deflecting element can be retracted into a body component of the vehicle.In this way, the deflection element does not obstruct the headlight's beam path when not in use, which is intended to illuminate the road ahead of the vehicle while it is in motion. Furthermore, the deflection element is protected in the non-use position and is integrated into the vehicle's body in a visually unobtrusive manner. The vehicle according to the invention, comprising an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) associated with the vehicle, includes a lighting arrangement according to one of the previously described embodiments, wherein the vehicle and the UAV each have a part of this lighting arrangement. The advantages, advantageous configurations, and effects mentioned above in connection with the method and the lighting arrangement also apply to the vehicle according to the invention with an UAV associated with the vehicle. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as those subsequently mentioned in the figure description and / or shown in the figures alone, can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, embodiments that are not explicitly shown or explained in the figures, but which can be derived and generated from the explained embodiments by separate combinations of features, are also to be considered as encompassed and disclosed by the invention. Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the following description of preferred embodiments, and the drawings. Figure 1 shows a simplified schematic side view of a lighting arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention, and Figure 2 shows a symbolic representation of the selection of a lighting area when carrying out a method according to one embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 shows a simplified schematic side view of a lighting arrangement 114 according to an embodiment of the invention. One section of the lighting arrangement 114 is arranged on the vehicle 100, and another section is arranged on the unmanned aerial vehicle 102 shown above it. The unmanned aerial vehicle 102 is associated with the vehicle 100 and is located at an illumination position above the vehicle 100. With respect to the representation in Fig. 1, this illumination position is located in front of the vehicle 100 in a direction extending out of the plane of the drawing. In the state shown in Fig. 1, an embodiment of the method according to the invention is carried out by means of a lighting control system (not shown). The vehicle 100 includes a headlight 104, which, during normal operation, is designed to illuminate the area in front of the vehicle 100 while it is in motion. The headlight 104 emits a first beam S1 of light forward. A movable deflecting element 106 is positioned within the first beam S1. In the illustrated embodiment, the deflecting element 106 is designed as a parabolic mirror and deflects a portion of the first beam S1 from the headlight 104 into a second beam S2, which runs from the deflecting element 106 to a reflecting element 110 on the unmanned aerial vehicle 102. The second beam S2 is reflected by the reflecting element 110, thereby illuminating the area 108 in front of the left front wheel of the vehicle 100.Due to the reflection of the second beam path S2 at the reflecting element 110, a third beam path S3 extends from the reflecting element 110 to the illumination area 108. In the illustrated embodiment, the reflecting element 110 is also designed as a paramirror. The illumination area 108 is thus illuminated by deflecting the first beam path S1 emitted by the headlight 104 twice. The deflecting element 106 is shown in a simplified form in its operating position, which is located in the first beam path S1 of the headlight 104. In a non-operating position, the deflecting element 106 can be removed from the first beam path S1 so that the first beam path S1 can be used to illuminate the area in front of the vehicle 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the deflecting element 106 can be retracted into a body component of the vehicle 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the deflecting element 106 can be retracted into the front bumper below the headlight 104 in the non-operating position. In the illustrated operating position, the deflecting element 106, designed as a parabolic mirror, is rotatably and linearly displaceably mounted on the vehicle 100 relative to the first beam path S1 of the headlight 104.The deflection element 106 can be made movable, for example, by providing servo motors in combination with appropriate bearings. After selecting the desired illumination area 108, the unmanned aerial vehicle 102 is moved to an illumination position. In this illumination position, there is a clear line of sight between the illumination position 106 and the reflector 110, as well as between the reflector 110 and the illumination area 108. In this way, the first beam path S1 can be deflected unhindered into the second beam path S2 and the third beam path S3 to the illumination area 108. Once the unmanned aerial vehicle 102 is at the illumination position, the illumination position 106 is rotated and / or moved until a portion of the first beam path S1, in the form of the second beam path S2, strikes the reflector 110 on the unmanned aerial vehicle 102.The relative position and orientation of the deflecting element 106 differs depending on the illumination position. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, where the deflecting element 106 is formed by a parabolic mirror, the first beam path S1 is deflected at an acute angle into the second beam path S2. In this way, the first beam path S1, which is directed in front of the vehicle 100, can be deflected to a direction above or behind the vehicle 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the reflector 110 is movably arranged on the unmanned aircraft 102. Thus, the orientation of the reflector 110 can be changed by a relative movement of the reflector 110 relative to the rest of the unmanned aircraft 102. During the illumination of the lighting area 108, the unmanned aircraft 102 can therefore hover above the vehicle 100 in a substantially unchanged position. To illuminate the lighting area 108, the reflector 110 is moved relative to the rest of the unmanned aircraft 102 such that the second beam path S2, which runs from the deflecting element 106 to the reflector 110, is deflected by reflection into a third beam path S3, which runs from the reflector 110 to the lighting area 108.In a case where the unmanned aerial vehicle 102 changes its position, which can happen, for example, due to weather conditions, the deflecting element 106 and / or the reflecting element 110 is moved again so that the twice-reflected light from the headlight 104, in the form of the third beam path S3, illuminates the lighting area 108. The lighting area 108 shown in Fig. 1 is located adjacent to the left front tire of the vehicle 100. This lighting area 108 was previously selected by a user in the process. This is described in connection with Fig. 2. Fig. 2 shows a symbolic representation of the selection of a lighting area 108 during the execution of a method according to an embodiment of the invention. When carrying out a method for illuminating a vehicle 100 or an area adjacent to a vehicle 100, a lighting area 108 is selected to be illuminated. This selection of the lighting area 108 can be made by a user of the vehicle 100, with the selection being made via an input device 112. In Fig. 2, an input device 112, which here is implemented as a mobile phone, is shown on the left. The input device 112 is connected via a data connection to a lighting control unit (not shown), which may, for example, be located in the vehicle 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the selection of the lighting area 108 is made via a user interface of the input device 112, which is symbolically represented on the right in Fig. 2.The graphical user interface shown depicts the vehicle 100 symbolically from above. In addition, the user interface displays a variety of predefined lighting zones 108, which are either located within a specific area of ​​the vehicle 100 or in an adjacent area of ​​the vehicle 100's surroundings. When selecting a lighting zone 108, the user can choose one of these predefined zones. Preferably, each of these predefined lighting zones 108 is already assigned a defined illumination position of the unmanned aerial vehicle 102 in the lighting control system or in a control system of the vehicle and / or the unmanned aerial vehicle 102. In addition to the predefined lighting zones 108, the user can also individually select other lighting zones 108. This can be done, for example, by tapping or using a gesture in the user interface.In a case where an individual lighting area 108 is selected, a suitable illumination position for the unmanned aerial vehicle 102 can be calculated based on the selected lighting area 108, the position of the deflector 106, and the dimensions of the vehicle 100. Selection via the user interface of the input device 112 shown is straightforward. Furthermore, the lighting area 108 can be easily modified or adjusted via another input. Alternatively, instead of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, an input device 112 can also be integrated into the vehicle 100. REFERENCE MARK LIST: 100 Vehicle 102 Unmanned aerial vehicle 104 Headlight 106 Deflection element 108 Illumination area 110 Reflector element 112 Input device 114 Illumination arrangement S1 First beam path S2 Second beam path S3 Third beam path

Claims

A method for illuminating a vehicle (100) or an area adjacent to a vehicle (100), the method comprising the following steps: A) Starting an unmanned aerial vehicle (102) associated with the vehicle (100) and moving the unmanned aerial vehicle (102) to a position above or beside the vehicle (100), B) Activating a headlight (104) of the vehicle (100), which is intended to illuminate a roadway in front of the vehicle (100), and positioning a movable deflector (106) in the beam path of the headlight (104), C) Selecting an illumination area (108) on or adjacent to the vehicle (100), D) Moving the unmanned aerial vehicle (102) to an illumination position above or beside the vehicle (100), wherein the illumination position is a position at which a reflective element (110) arranged on the unmanned aerial vehicle (102) is in direct line of sight to the Deflection element (106) and to the lighting area (108) is,E) Deflecting at least part of the beam path of the headlight (104) onto the reflecting element (110) of the unmanned aerial vehicle (102), wherein the deflecting element (106) is moved relative to the headlight (104), wherein the beam path of the headlight (104) runs horizontally between a horizontal plane and a plane which is oriented downwards to the horizontal plane, and the beam path of the headlight is deflected by the deflecting element (106) at an acute angle to this beam path; F) Illuminating the illumination area (108), wherein the illumination area (108) is illuminated by a reflection of at least a part of the beam path deflected by the deflecting element (106) through the reflecting element (110), wherein the reflecting element (110) is moved relative to the beam path of the headlight (104) deflected by the deflecting element (106) and relative to the illumination area (108).wherein the selection of the lighting area (108) in process step C) is made by a user of the vehicle (100), wherein the selection of the lighting area (108) is made via an input device (112). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the deflecting element (106) is mounted rotatably and / or linearly displaceably relative to the beam path of the headlight (104) and the deflecting element (106) is rotated and / or linearly displaced in method step E) relative to the beam path of the headlight (104), wherein the deflected part of the beam path of the headlight (104) is aligned with the reflection element (110). Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the deflecting element (106) and / or the reflecting element (110) has a reflective surface or is formed by a lens. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one predefined lighting area (108) is provided when selecting the lighting area (108). Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the illumination position is calculated based on the selected illumination area (108), the position of the deflecting element (106) and the dimensions of the vehicle (100) or, in a case in which at least one predefined illumination area (108) is provided, a defined illumination position is assigned to each predefined illumination area (108). Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in method step F) the reflective element (110) is arranged immovably on the unmanned aircraft (102) and is moved by a movement of the entire unmanned aircraft (102) or the reflective element (110) is arranged movably mounted on the unmanned aircraft (102) and is moved by a relative movement of the reflective element (110) relative to the rest of the unmanned aircraft (102). Lighting arrangement (114) for illuminating a vehicle (100) or an area adjacent to a vehicle (100), comprising: - at least one headlight (104) arranged on a vehicle, which is intended for illuminating a roadway in front of the vehicle (100); - at least one deflecting element (106) which is connected to the vehicle (100) and is arranged to be positionable and movable in the beam path of the headlight (104); - at least one reflecting element (110) which is arranged on an unmanned aerial vehicle (102) associated with the vehicle (100); - at least one input device (112) which is provided and configured for the selection of an illumination area (108) by a user; - at least one lighting control which is connected via a data link to a control unit of the vehicle, a control unit of the unmanned aerial vehicle (102) and the input device (112), wherein the lighting control is configured toto carry out a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Lighting arrangement (114) according to claim 7, characterized in that the deflecting element (106) can be positioned in a use position in the beam path of the headlight (104) and can be removed from the beam path of the headlight (104) in a non-use position, wherein the deflecting element (106) can be retracted, at least partially, into a body component of the vehicle (100) in the non-use position. Vehicle (100) with an unmanned aircraft (102) associated with the vehicle (100), wherein the vehicle (100) and the unmanned aircraft (102) each comprise a part of a lighting arrangement (114) according to one of claims 7 or 8.

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