A path generator includes a map generator for generating a map for a
movement space based on information on the position and shape of a mobile
object, an obstacle, and a target object. It also includes a composite
potential generator for calculating an attractive potential and a
repulsive potential based on relative positional relationship among the
mobile object, the obstacle, and the destination position, and generating
a composite potential that is a sum of the attractive potential and the
repulsive potential. A local minimum determination unit performs a path
search in the map based on the composite potential and determines whether
a convergence position of the path search is a local minimum. If it is, a
phantom potential generator generates a phantom potential to be added to
the potential of the convergence position. If the convergence position is
the destination position, a path generator generates a movement path for
the mobile object based on the result of the path search.