In order to solve the path tracking problem of boiler water wall wear detection robot, a robot path tracking method based on exponential approach law for sliding mode variable structure control is proposed. Based on the motion model of the water wall wear detection robot, perform path tracking error analysis. Design of a sliding mode variable structure controller based on exponential approach law. Then use Lyapunov"s theorem to verify its convergence, and finally simulate it through MATLAB software. The simulation results show that the controller can overcome the error and make the pose error converge to zero.