XML 92 R78.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.7.0.1

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) ft² in Thousands, $ in Thousands, ¥ in Millions |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Feb. 27, 2012 USD ($) | Feb. 27, 2012 CNY (¥) | Oct. 08, 2011 USD ($) | Oct. 08, 2011 CNY (¥) | Sep. 13, 2011 USD ($) | Sep. 13, 2011 CNY (¥) | Mar. 31, 2011 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2011 CNY (¥) | Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) ft² | Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total space leased, square feet | ft² |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 180 |
Restricted cash included in current assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 795 | $ 457
Restricted cash included in long-term assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 165 | $ 934
Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sought compensation amount | $ 15,000 | ¥ 105 | $ 174,000 | ¥ 1,200 |  |  |  |  |  |
Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sought compensation amount |  |  |  |  | $ 70,000 | ¥ 485 |  |  |  |
Value of the undelivered components |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 667,000 | ¥ 4,600 |  |

X
- Definition Area Of Leased Property + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_AreaOfLeasedProperty
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | num:areaItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Supply commitment remaining amount committed. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_SupplyCommitmentRemainingAmountCommitted
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The value (monetary amount) of the award the plaintiff seeks in the legal matter. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. For a classified balance sheet represents the current portion only (the noncurrent portion has a separate concept); there is a separate and distinct element for unclassified presentations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Cash and equivalents whose use in whole or in part is restricted for the long-term, generally by contractual agreements or regulatory requirements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=amsc_SinovelWindGroupCoLtdMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=amsc_SinovelWindGroupCoLtdMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |