A method of classifying vehicle occupants utilizes a neural network engine
having a state machine for determining if an occupant has changed
preferably between an adult and adult, an adult and child, and a child
and child from a pair of images. If no change has occurred, the method
utilizes the prior occupant type and then decides if the occupant has
changed in position. If no, the occupant is deemed static and the prior
type is valid as a classification or output to preferably a vehicle
restraint system. If the occupant has changed in position, a dynamic
classification process is initiated by either an adult or a child dynamic
classifier as dictated by the state machine. Valid dynamic classifier
outputs or classifications can be sent to the restraint system and
invalid dynamic classifier outputs are sent to a static classifier for
update of the occupant type.