This book provides a systematic presentation of the major results in the field of the theory of k-out-of-n systems obtained in recent years and their applications for the reliability assessment of high-altitude unmanned platforms. Mathematical models, methods, and algorithms, presented in the book, will make a significant contribution to the development of reliability theory and the theoretical foundations of unmanned UAV-based aerial communications networks in the framework of the concept of creating the 5G and beyond networks. The book gives a description of new mathematical methods and approaches (based on decomposable semi-regenerative processes, simulation and machine learning methods, and inventory models) to the study of the complex k-out-of-n systems, which makes it possible to carry out numerical calculations of reliability indicators. Organized into five chapters, each chapter begins with a summary of the main definitions and results contained in the chapter. The content of this book is based on the original results developed by the authors, many of which appear for the first time in book form.

Chapter 1 On tethered high-altitude unmanned telecommunication platforms.- Chapter 2 Reliability function of a complex k-out-of-n model.- Chapter 3 Reliability characteristics for repairable k-out-of-n model.- Chapter 4 Preventive maintenance for k-out-of-n model.- Chapter 5 New approaches to reliability investigation of k-out-of-n models.