Articulation control system for articulatable surgical instruments

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• an end effector;
• a shaft extending proximally from the end effector;
• an articulation assembly configured to move the end effector relative to the shaft between an unarticulated position, a first articulated position on a first side of the unarticulated position, and a second articulated position on a second side of the unarticulated position, wherein the first side is opposite the second side;
• a motor;
• a controller in communication with the motor;
• a first input configured to transmit a first input signal to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to activate the motor to move the end effector to the first articulated position in response to the first input signal;
• a second input configured to transmit a second input signal to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to activate the motor to move the end effector to the second articulated position in response to the second input signal;
• and
• a reset input configured to transmit a reset input signal to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to activate the motor to move the end effector to the unarticulated position in response to the reset input signal.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• an end effector;
• a shaft extending proximally from the end effector;
• an articulation assembly configured to move the end effector relative to the shaft between an unarticulated position, a first range of articulated positions on a first side of the unarticulated position, and a second range of articulated positions on a second side of the unarticulated position, wherein the first side is opposite the second side;
• a motor;
• a controller in communication with the motor;
• a first input configured to transmit a first input signal to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to activate the motor to move the end effector to an articulated position within the first range of articulated positions in response to the first input signal;
• a second input configured to transmit a second input signal to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to activate the motor to move the end effector to an articulated position within the second range of articulated positions in response to the second input signal;
• and
• a reset input configured to transmit a reset input signal to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to activate the motor to move the end effector to the unarticulated position in response to the reset input signal.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a shaft;
• an end effector extending distally from the shaft, wherein the end effector is configured to articulate relative to the shaft between an unarticulated position and a plurality of articulated positions;
• a motor;
• a controller;
• an articulation input, wherein the controller is configured to activate the motor to move the end effector to an articulated position in response to an actuation of the articulation input;
• and
• a return input, wherein the controller is configured to activate the motor to move the end effector to the unarticulated position in response to an actuation of the return input.

A surgical instrument assembly, comprising:

• a shaft;
• an end effector, wherein a portion of the end effector is configured to articulate relative to the shaft between a home position and a plurality of articulated positions;
• a motor;
• a controller;
• an articulation input, wherein the controller is configured to activate the motor and move the articulatable end effector portion in response to an actuation of the articulation input;
• and
• a return input, wherein the controller is configured to activate the motor and move the articulatable end effector portion to the home position in response to an actuation of the return input.