In various examples, a path perception ensemble is used to produce a more accurate and reliable understanding of a driving surface and/or a path there through. For example, an analysis of a plurality of path perception inputs provides testability and reliability for accurate and redundant lane mapping and/or path planning in real-time or near real-time. By incorporating a plurality of separate path perception computations, a means of metricizing path perception correctness, quality, and reliability is provided by analyzing whether and how much the individual path perception signals agree or disagree. By implementing this approach—where individual path perception inputs fail in almost independent ways—a system failure is less statistically likely. In addition, with diversity and redundancy in path perception, comfortable lane keeping on high curvature roads, under severe road conditions, and/or at complex intersections, as well as autonomous negotiation of turns at intersections, may be enabled.