VEHICLE OCCUPANT DETECTION

A system and method for detecting an occupant within a seat of a vehicle. The method includes: obtaining onboard sensor data from at least one occupant detection sensor, wherein the at least one occupant detection sensor is a biometric sensor, and wherein the onboard sensor data includes data extracted from a sensor response of the biometric sensor; determining an occupant presence classification selected from a plurality of occupant presence classifications based on an evaluation of the onboard sensor data, wherein the evaluation is carried out using occupant detection sensor parameters in combination with the onboard sensor data, and wherein the plurality of occupant presence classifications include an occupant not present classification, an occupant spaced away from seat classification, and an occupant directly on seat classification; and carrying out a vehicle action in response to the determined occupant presence classification.