A method for operating a self-traveling robot, wherein an environment map of an environment of the robot is generated based on measuring data recorded within the environment, wherein a position of therobot within the environment is estimated, and wherein the robot travels within the environment based on the environment map and its known position. In order to extend the maximum range of the robotwithin the environment, an environment map, which is currently not needed for the navigation of the robot, is detected and transmitted to an external memory unit.