1. An object recognition device for recognizing a class of object in an input test image, said device comprising: an input for receiving said input test image; a plurality of active appearance model processing blocks (AAMs), each of said plurality of AAMs having been trained with a distinct group of independent, digital training images, each training image in all groups of training images having a true example of said class of object with a common, predefined set of characteristic features of said class of object identified and labeled, each group of training images being made distinct by sharing specific traits in select characteristic features distinct from the specific traits in other groups of training images, each of said plurality of AAMs having a corresponding model image and a corresponding statistical model fitting function reflecting the specific traits of the group of training images from which it is trained; a data processing module for implementing the following data processing steps: (a) defining said input test image as a current_image; (b) applying said current_image to a selected AAM selected from among said plurality of AAMs, the selected AAM having a corresponding model image that most closely matches said current_image as compared to the model images corresponding to the not-selected AAMs, the selected AAM processing said current_image to produce an intermediate aligned image; (c) IF a misalignment measure of said intermediate aligned image and a predefined model image is greater than a predefined maximum measure, THEN defining the intermediate aligned image as said current_image and returning to step (b), ELSE outputting said intermediate aligned image as a successful recognition of said class of object.