This paper proposes a predictive compensation strategy to reduce the detrimental effect of stochastic time delays induced by communication networks on control performance. Values of a manipulated variable at the present sampling instant and future time instants can be determined by performing a receding horizon optimal procedure only once. When the present value of the manipulated variable does not arrive at a smart actuator, its predictive one is imposed to the corresponding process. Switching of a manipulated variable between its true present value and the predictive one usually results in unsmooth operation of a control system. This paper shows: 1) for a steady process,as long as its input is sufficiently smooth, the smoothness of its output can be guaranteed; 2) a manipulated variable can be switched smoothly by filtering the manipulated variable just using a simple low-pass filter. Thus the control performance can be improved. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by simulation study.
