In order to improve the precision and accuracy of artificial potential field, and avoid the situation of hovering on the end point and being caught in minimum value, a path planning algorithm based on artificial potential algorithm for unmanned aerial vehicle is presented. The traditional artificial potential field method is improved: chaos theory is used to improve artificial potential field calculation formula, which changes the potential field coefficients of each barrier and target point, resulting in the best screened out route. The simulation experimental analysis and result show that the optimized algorithm considers the influence of obstacles to the optimization process, ruling out the situation of hovering on the end point in unmanned aerial vehicle route planning, and through iterative method, the algorithm has the ability to adapt to different maps. The improved artificial potential field method is better than the traditional artificial potential field method in speed and precision aspects.