A surgical instrument , comprising: a handle ; a shaft extending from said handle ; an end effector comprising a staple cartridge including staples removably stored therein; an articulation joint rotatably connecting said end effector to said shaft ; a staple firing drive comprising an electric motor and a translatable firing member ; an articulation drive comprising an articulation member engaged with said end effector , wherein said surgical instrument is shiftable between an articulation state and a staple firing state, wherein said articulation member is operably connected to said firing member when said surgical instrument is in said articulation state, wherein said firing member is translatable in said articulation state to translate said articulation member and rotate said end effector relative to said shaft , wherein said articulation member is operably disconnected from said firing member when said surgical instrument is in said staple firing state, and wherein said firing member is translatable distally when said surgical instrument is in said staple firing state to eject said staples from said staple cartridge during a staple firing stroke; an articulation lock configured to hold said articulation member in place when said articulation member is not being translated by said firing member , wherein the translation of said articulation member unlocks said articulation lock ; a motor control circuit in communication with said electric motor; and a force sensor in communication with said motor control circuit, wherein said force sensor is configured to detect a force within said articulation member , and characterized in that : said motor control circuit is configured to assess whether said articulation member is operably coupled with said firing member based on data received from said force sensor. a handle ; a shaft extending from said handle ; an end effector comprising a staple cartridge including staples removably stored therein; an articulation joint rotatably connecting said end effector to said shaft ; a staple firing drive comprising an electric motor and a translatable firing member ; an articulation drive comprising an articulation member engaged with said end effector , wherein said surgical instrument is shiftable between an articulation state and a staple firing state, wherein said articulation member is operably connected to said firing member when said surgical instrument is in said articulation state, wherein said firing member is translatable in said articulation state to translate said articulation member and rotate said end effector relative to said shaft , wherein said articulation member is operably disconnected from said firing member when said surgical instrument is in said staple firing state, and wherein said firing member is translatable distally when said surgical instrument is in said staple firing state to eject said staples from said staple cartridge during a staple firing stroke; an articulation lock configured to hold said articulation member in place when said articulation member is not being translated by said firing member , wherein the translation of said articulation member unlocks said articulation lock ; a motor control circuit in communication with said electric motor; and a force sensor in communication with said motor control circuit, wherein said force sensor is configured to detect a force within said articulation member , and characterized in that : said motor control circuit is configured to assess whether said articulation member is operably coupled with said firing member based on data received from said force sensor. <EOS>