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Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 02, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Oct. 09, 2013	Apr. 04, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Nov. 13, 2014	Nov. 15, 2013	Jun. 05, 2012	Dec. 19, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative Liability			$ 500,000us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities				$ 3,800,000us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities								$ 200,000us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities	$ 500,000us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities	$ 1,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities	$ 2,800,000us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities	$ 4,500,000us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities
Warrants	2,999,000us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	2,601,000us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent			2,601,000us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent
Total debt discount being amortized into interest expense	1,700,000us-gaap_InterestExpense	9,700,000us-gaap_InterestExpense	14,900,000us-gaap_InterestExpense
Non-cash interest expense amortization of debt discount	500,000amsc_NonCashInterestExpenseAmortizationOfDebtDiscount	7,700,000amsc_NonCashInterestExpenseAmortizationOfDebtDiscount	12,400,000amsc_NonCashInterestExpenseAmortizationOfDebtDiscount
Percentage of stock discount	85.00%amsc_PercentageOfStockDiscount
Number of trading days for valuation of shares	10 days
Non-cash interest expense issuing stock at discount		2,900,000amsc_NonCashInterestExpenseIssuingStockAtDiscount	3,600,000amsc_NonCashInterestExpenseIssuingStockAtDiscount
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(5,197,000)us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Interest expense	1,700,000us-gaap_InterestExpense	9,700,000us-gaap_InterestExpense	14,900,000us-gaap_InterestExpense
Non-cash interest expense	566,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCostsAndDiscounts	7,713,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCostsAndDiscounts	12,426,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCostsAndDiscounts
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date, Description	As part of the Hercules Second Amendment, this Minimum Threshold was amended to be the lower of $5.0 million or the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Term Loans. As of March 31, 2015, the Minimum Threshold was $5.0 million. As a result of the Company’s equity offering on April 29, 2015, the Minimum Threshold will be reduced to the lesser of $2.0 million or the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Term Loans (See Note 19, “Subsequent Events”).
Capital Ventures International
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt conversion, shares issued				663,000us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentSharesIssued1 / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember
Loss on extinguishment of debt					(5,200,000)us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember
Senior Convertible Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Non-cash interest expense amortization of debt discount		4,100,000amsc_NonCashInterestExpenseAmortizationOfDebtDiscount / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember	8,200,000amsc_NonCashInterestExpenseAmortizationOfDebtDiscount / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
Senior Convertible Debt | Capital Ventures International
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net proceeds after fees and expenses of purchase agreement							23,200,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromConvertibleDebt / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
Conversion price							$ 48.50us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1 / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
Premium over closing price, percentage							20.00%amsc_PurchaseCommitmentPremiumOfClosingPricePercent / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
Period before first installment payment							4 months
Shares registered for resale							1,026,231amsc_CommonStockResaleShares / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
Derivative Liability							3,800,000us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
Number of shares received from warrants received to purchase common stock							309,406amsc_PurchaseCommitmentIssuanceOfWarrantsSharesOfCommonStock / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
Strike price per share						$ 26.10invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember	$ 54.50invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
Fair value of warrants at issuance							7,000,000amsc_PurchaseCommitmentIssuanceOfWarrantsFairValueOfSharesOfCommonStock / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
New Unsecured Senior Convertible Note
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Conversion price							$ 48.50us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1 / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_NewUnsecuredSeniorConvertibleNoteMember										$ 31.90us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1 / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_NewUnsecuredSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
Debt conversion, shares issued				663,000us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentSharesIssued1 / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_NewUnsecuredSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
New Unsecured Senior Convertible Note | Capital Ventures International
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Warrants								500,000us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_NewUnsecuredSeniorConvertibleNoteMember	500,000us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_NewUnsecuredSeniorConvertibleNoteMember					500,000us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_NewUnsecuredSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
Increase in derivative liability								1,500,000us-gaap_DerivativeLossOnDerivative / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_NewUnsecuredSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
Total debt discount being amortized into interest expense									13,100,000us-gaap_InterestExpense / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_NewUnsecuredSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
Interest expense									13,100,000us-gaap_InterestExpense / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_NewUnsecuredSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
Senior Secured Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of shares received from warrants received to purchase common stock											25,641amsc_PurchaseCommitmentIssuanceOfWarrantsSharesOfCommonStock / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Strike price per share										$ 17.00invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember	$ 19.50invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Senior Secured Loan | Hercules Technology Growth Capital
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of shares received from warrants received to purchase common stock											25,641amsc_PurchaseCommitmentIssuanceOfWarrantsSharesOfCommonStock / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember	13,927amsc_PurchaseCommitmentIssuanceOfWarrantsSharesOfCommonStock / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Strike price per share											$ 19.50invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember	$ 35.90invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Fair value of warrants at issuance												400,000amsc_PurchaseCommitmentIssuanceOfWarrantsFairValueOfSharesOfCommonStock / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Total debt discount being amortized into interest expense			1,200,000us-gaap_InterestExpense / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember					1,000,000us-gaap_InterestExpense / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Non-cash interest expense amortization of debt discount		500,000amsc_NonCashInterestExpenseAmortizationOfDebtDiscount / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Legal and origination costs		200,000us-gaap_LegalFees / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember	300,000us-gaap_LegalFees / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Debt, face amount											10,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember	10,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Net proceeds from debt											9,800,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfDebt / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember	9,700,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfDebt / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Interest rate on loan												11.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
End of term fee			500,000amsc_DebtInstrumentEndOfTermFee / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember					500,000amsc_DebtInstrumentEndOfTermFee / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Interest expense			1,200,000us-gaap_InterestExpense / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember					1,000,000us-gaap_InterestExpense / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Total debt discount being amortized into interest expense	400,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember	200,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Minimum amount of proceeds from specified asset dispositions for mandatory prepayment feature								1,000,000amsc_MinimumAmountOfProceedsFromSpecifiedAssetDispositionsForMandatoryPrepaymentFeature / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember	1,000,000amsc_MinimumAmountOfProceedsFromSpecifiedAssetDispositionsForMandatoryPrepaymentFeature / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember					1,000,000amsc_MinimumAmountOfProceedsFromSpecifiedAssetDispositionsForMandatoryPrepaymentFeature / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Outstanding principal balance	6,700,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Covenant, unrestricted cash balance requirement								5,000,000amsc_DebtInstrumentCovenantUnrestrictedCashBalanceRequirement / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember	5,000,000amsc_DebtInstrumentCovenantUnrestrictedCashBalanceRequirement / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember		5,000,000amsc_DebtInstrumentCovenantUnrestrictedCashBalanceRequirement / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember			5,000,000amsc_DebtInstrumentCovenantUnrestrictedCashBalanceRequirement / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Repayments of term loan	2,000,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebt / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Senior Secured Loan | Hercules Technology Growth Capital | Second Amendment
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of shares received from warrants received to purchase common stock													58,823amsc_PurchaseCommitmentIssuanceOfWarrantsSharesOfCommonStock / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = amsc_SecondAmendmentMember / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Strike price per share													$ 11.10invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = amsc_SecondAmendmentMember / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Total debt discount being amortized into interest expense								300,000us-gaap_InterestExpense / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = amsc_SecondAmendmentMember / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Legal and origination costs														100,000us-gaap_LegalFees / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = amsc_SecondAmendmentMember / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Debt, face amount													1,500,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = amsc_SecondAmendmentMember / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Net proceeds from debt													1,400,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = amsc_SecondAmendmentMember / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
End of term fee								100,000amsc_DebtInstrumentEndOfTermFee / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = amsc_SecondAmendmentMember / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Interest expense								300,000us-gaap_InterestExpense / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = amsc_SecondAmendmentMember / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date								Jun. 01, 2017
Non-cash interest expense	100,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCostsAndDiscounts / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = amsc_SecondAmendmentMember / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Senior Secured Loan | Hercules Technology Growth Capital | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Prime rate												3.75%amsc_PrimeRate / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember
Senior Secured Loan | Hercules Technology Growth Capital | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Non-cash interest expense amortization of debt discount	$ 100,000amsc_NonCashInterestExpenseAmortizationOfDebtDiscount / us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis = amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember

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