Curiosity　plays　an　important　role　in　the　development　of　biological　cognition,　which　drives　animals　to　explore　unknown　environments.　Inspired　by　the　research　of　psychology,　this　paper　proposes　a　curiosity-based　mobile　robot　path　planning　method　with　a　mental　energy　function,　which　is　suitable　for　robot　state　evaluation.　In　our　proposed　method,　a　novel　mental　energy　function　is　designed　to　guide　the　learning　direction　of　the　robot　in　navigation　task.　The　experimental　results　show　that　the　novel　method　we　proposed　can　effectively　guide　robot　to　learn　environment　information.　By　changing　the　simulation　environment,　robot　can　reach　the　end　point　through　re-learning　the　environment,　that　reflects　the　autonomous　learning　ability　and　the　environmental　adaptability　of　robots.　©　2019　IEEE.