Cartridge status and presence detection

A surgical instrument comprising:

• an actuation output;
• an end effector configured to receive and support a surgical cartridge, the surgical cartridge including an input that is drivingly coupled with the actuation output when the surgical cartridge is mounted to the end effector, the actuation output being actuated in a first direction to fire at least one staple in the surgical cartridge;
• a drive source drivingly coupled with the actuation output;
• a sensor that generates an output indicative of movement of the actuation output;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled with the sensor and the drive source, the controller comprising a processor and a tangible storage medium containing instructions that when executed cause the processor to:
• command a movement of the actuation output in a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction;
• detect whether an actuation amount of the actuation output as a result of the commanded movement of the actuation output in the second direction is at or above a threshold actuation amount;
• and
• in response to detecting the actuation amount of the actuation output as a result of the commanded movement of the actuation output in the second direction being at or above the threshold actuation amount, determine that the surgical instrument does not have the surgical cartridge in a staple-unfired condition mounted to the surgical instrument.