1. To identify recent trends in the field of robotics, you can search for recent publications and research papers in the field. You can also search for news articles and industry reports. Additionally, you can join relevant mailing lists and discussion forums to stay up-to-date on developments in the field.
2. To identify research gaps in the literature, you can examine existing research papers in the field to identify topics that have not been explored in depth. You can also look for papers that have contradictory findings or that do not seem to answer the questions they pose. Additionally, you can look for areas where there is limited research or where research is conflicting. This can help you identify potential research gaps.