  This work presents the design, implementation and validation of learning
techniques based on the kNN scheme for gesture detection in prosthetic control.
To cope with high computational demands in instance-based prediction, methods
of dataset reduction are evaluated considering real-time determinism to allow
for the reliable integration into battery-powered portable devices. The
influence of parameterization and varying proportionality schemes is analyzed,
utilizing an eight-channel-sEMG armband. Besides offline cross-validation
accuracy, success rates in real-time pilot experiments (online target
achievement tests) are determined. Based on the assessment of specific dataset
reduction techniques' adequacy for embedded control applications regarding
accuracy and timing behaviour, Decision Surface Mapping (DSM) proves itself
promising when applying kNN on the reduced set. A randomized, double-blind user
study was conducted to evaluate the respective methods (kNN and kNN with
DSM-reduction) against Ridge Regression (RR) and RR with Random Fourier
Features (RR-RFF). The kNN-based methods performed significantly better
(p<0.0005) than the regression techniques. Between DSM-kNN and kNN, there was
no statistically significant difference (significance level 0.05). This is
remarkable in consideration of only one sample per class in the reduced set,
thus yielding a reduction rate of over 99% while preserving success rate. The
same behaviour could be confirmed in an extended user study. With k=1, which
turned out to be an excellent choice, the runtime complexity of both kNN (in
every prediction step) as well as DSM-kNN (in the training phase) becomes
linear concerning the number of original samples, favouring dependable wearable
prosthesis applications.
