Disclosed is a mobile robot including a driver configured to move a main body, an image obtainer configured to obtain an image of the surroundings and far and near distances between the main body and an obstacle, and a controller configured to analyze the image and the far and near distances obtained by the image obtainer and to determine whether an obstacle is present near the main body. The controller determines whether the obstacle is a mat-type obstacle. Upon determining that the obstacle is a mat-type obstacle, the controller calculates the planar area of the mat-type obstacle, and determines a climbing operation or an avoidance operation of the main body based on the planar area of the mat-type obstacle.