A seat occupant in a vehicle is classified into one of first and second categories
by using a support vector machine (SVM). Sensor signals are obtained from seat
sensors to form a sensor signal vector. By using the sensor signal vector, a value
of a two-value decision function known as SVM is calculated. The seat occupant
is decided to be of one of the first and second categories associated with the
value. The two-value decision function can be generated through support vector
learning by using a set of training vectors obtained from the seat sensors. An
airbag system using an inventive seat occupant classifying apparatus is also disclosed.
