Autonomous robot for clearing snow from roofs

A method for clearing snow from a roof, comprising:

• controlling motions of a snow-removal robot on the roof, said robot having a main body, a traction arrangement enabling motion of the robot on snow lying on a roof of a building, a snow-removal device connected to the main body, and at least one depth sensor;
• controlling the traction arrangement such that the robot follows a snow-clearing path;
• receiving a depth signal from the at least one depth sensor;
• and
• as a function of the depth signal, actively, as the robot follows the snow-clearing path, controlling a snow-clearing depth by actuating the snow-removal device and adjusting a vertical snow-clearing distance so as to leave a layer of snow of a pre-determined depth on the roof after clearing and to prevent contact by the snow-removal device with a surface of the roof, such that, during snow removal, no part of the snow-removal device comes into contact with the roof surface other than at most the traction arrangement;
• in which the robot carries out the snow-removal autonomously, independent of user control of the robot's motions.