A method of manufacturing a flexible force sensor , the method comprising: forming a housing comprising a first housing structure and a second housing structure which are formed from a non-conductive material, wherein the first housing structure comprises a platform , inner and outer rims and a central region located between the inner and outer rims, wherein the inner and outer rims and the central region project from the platform such that the inner and outer rims serve to offset the central region from the second housing structure ; and the second housing structure comprises a base and an encapsulating layer and the first housing structure is configured to allow inward elastical deformation of the central region relative to the rims in response to an externally applied force, wherein the first housing structure includes a plurality of first electrode plates mounted on the central region of the first housing structure , the first electrode plates being circumferentially spaced from one another; wherein the second housing structure includes a plurality of second electrode plates mounted to the base such that the encapsulating layer encapsulates the second electrode plates , the second electrode plates being identical to the first electrode plates in at least shape and circumferential spacing; and assembling the first housing structure to the second housing structure such that respective ones of the first electrode plates are aligned with and spaced from respective ones of the second electrode plates to establish a plurality of capacitive sensing components ; wherein the first electrode plate of each of the sensing components is movable relative to the corresponding second electrode plate to establish a variable gap therebetween. forming a housing comprising a first housing structure and a second housing structure which are formed from a non-conductive material, wherein the first housing structure comprises a platform , inner and outer rims and a central region located between the inner and outer rims, wherein the inner and outer rims and the central region project from the platform such that the inner and outer rims serve to offset the central region from the second housing structure ; and the second housing structure comprises a base and an encapsulating layer and the first housing structure is configured to allow inward elastical deformation of the central region relative to the rims in response to an externally applied force, wherein the first housing structure includes a plurality of first electrode plates mounted on the central region of the first housing structure , the first electrode plates being circumferentially spaced from one another; wherein the second housing structure includes a plurality of second electrode plates mounted to the base such that the encapsulating layer encapsulates the second electrode plates , the second electrode plates being identical to the first electrode plates in at least shape and circumferential spacing; and assembling the first housing structure to the second housing structure such that respective ones of the first electrode plates are aligned with and spaced from respective ones of the second electrode plates to establish a plurality of capacitive sensing components ; wherein the first electrode plate of each of the sensing components is movable relative to the corresponding second electrode plate to establish a variable gap therebetween. <EOS>