The article overviews current trends in research studies related to reliability prediction and prognostics. The trends are organized into three major types of prognostic models: failure data models, stressor models, and degradation models. Methods in each of these categories are presented and examples are given. Additionally, three particular computational prognostic approaches are considered; these are Markov chainbased models, general path models, and shock models. A Bayesian technique is

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... presented which integrates the prognostic types by incorporate prior reliability knowledge into the prognostic models. Finally, the article also discusses the usage of diagnostic/prognostic predictions for optimal control.