Path　planning　algorithms　for　automated　fiber　placement　are　used　to　determine　the　directions　of　the　fiber　paths　and　the　start　and　end　positions　on　the　mold　surfaces.　The　quality　of　the　fiber　paths　determines　largely　the　efficiency　and　quality　of　the　automated　fiber　placement　process.　The　presented　work　investigated　an　efficient　path　planning　algorithm　based　on　surface　meshing.　In　addition,　an　update　method　of　the　datum　direction　vector　via　a　guide-line　update　strategy　was　proposed　to　make　the　path　planning　algorithm　applicable　for　complex　surfaces.　Finally,　accuracy　analysis　was　performed　on　the　proposed　algorithm　and　it　can　be　adopted　as　the　reference　for　the　triangulation　parameter　selection　for　the　path　planning　algorithm.　©　2020　by　the　authors.