A robot cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a body including a suction motor for generating a suction force; a traveling part for moving the body; and a control part for, in response to sensing of a preconfigured input signal, recognizing a position of the body in a cleaning area and determining a start position on the basis of the recognized position. The control part sets an imaginary boundary having a predetermined size with reference to the determined start position, and when a travel route having a preconfigured pattern is set in the boundary, controls the travelling part and the suction motor to perform a cleaning operation while travelling along the travel route in a first direction and then perform a cleaning operation while travelling along the travel route in a second direction opposite to the first direction.