Mobile robot for recognizing queue and operating method of mobile robot

Disclosed is a moving robot capable of recognizing a waiting line and a method for controlling the same. One embodiment provides a method for operating a moving robot, the method comprising: starting moving from a predefined moving start point toward a predefined moving end point; acquiring a waiting line region image by photographing a predefined waiting line region during the moving; searching for an end point of a waiting line formed in the waiting line region using the waiting line region image; terminating the moving when the end point of the waiting line is detected; setting an operation mode based on a length of the waiting line calculated using the end point of the waiting line; and operating in the set operation mode while returning to the moving start point.