The automatic positioning system (200) according to the invention comprises a system for determining the spatial arrangement of the operation field, a unit for determining the spatial position and orientation of the operating theatre light on the basis of the determined operation field, and a control unit for controlling the powered driving units of the operating theatre light (230) on the basis of the spatial position and orientation of the operating theatre light (230). The system for determining the operation field comprises a head-strap (111) adapted to be mounted on the head of a surgeon, said head-strap comprising an optical transmitter (112) and a power supply (115), wherein said optical transmitter (112) includes at least three point light sources, and wherein the spatial positions of the light sources uniquely define a viewing point and a viewing direction a plurality of optical detectors (114) for receiving the light signals of the transmitter and an image processing unit for computing said viewing point and said viewing direction in response to said signals of the optical detectors (114) and for determining the spatial arrangement of the operation field from said viewing point and said viewing direction.
