This　paper　presents　a　novel　capacitive　pressure　sensor　that　is　capable　of　making　highly　accurate　measurements　at　low　pressure.　Different　from　the　method　that　many　researchers　have　successfully　used　to　improve　the　sensitivity　of　capacitive　sensors　by　using　a　micro-structured　dielectric　layer　(such　as　the　micro-structured　PDMS　film),　this　paper　creatively　used　an　elastic　metallized　sponge　(nickel-plated　polyurethane　sponge)　as　the　elastic　porous　electrode　of　the　capacitive　sensor,　so　that　it　can　detect　very　low　pressure　(such　as　a　0.2　g　soybean).　Compared　with　the　traditional　capacitive　sensor　using　an　insulative　polyurethane　sponge　as　the　dielectric,　the　baseline　capacitance　of　the　sensor　of　the　same　size　can　increase　by　10　times,　and　it　has　a　better　signal-to-noise　ratio.　In　addition,　the　sensor　has　good　robustness　due　to　the　good　mechanical　properties　of　the　nickel-plated　polyurethane　sponge.　The　fabrication　process　of　the　sensor　is　extremely　simple,　the　cost　is　low,　and　it　can　be　made　into　any　planar　shape.　In　this　paper,　we　describe　the　structure,　principle　and　manufacture　of　the　sensor,　and　present　the　application　on　robotic　grasping.　©　2019　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.