A surgical instrument disclosed herein comprises an elongate channel, a staple cartridge operably supported in the elongate channel, and an anvil movably supported relative to the elongate channel. The instrument further comprises a tissue cutting implement movable relative to the elongate channel, a drive shaft operably interfacing with the tissue cutting implement for transmitting motion to the tissue cutting implement, and an electric motor comprising a rotatable output operably engaged with the drive shaft. The instrument further comprises, one, a controller configured to control the electric motor and, two, a sensor configured to detect resistive forces experienced by the tissue cutting implement as the tissue cutting implement is driven through tissue clamped between the staple cartridge and the anvil, wherein the sensor is in signal communication with the controller.
