XML 51 R39.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

Nature of the Business and Operations and Liquidity - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands |  |  |  |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 27, 2018 USD ($) | Jul. 04, 2018 USD ($) | Jul. 03, 2018 USD ($) installment | Mar. 28, 2018 USD ($) | Feb. 01, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (953,187) |  | $ (953,187) |  | $ (988,333)
Cash and cash equivalents |  |  |  |  |  |  | 80,042 |  | 80,042 |  | 34,084
Net cash used in operating activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 47,786 | $ (20,234) |
Net Sinovel settlement |  |  |  |  |  |  | 24,978 | $ 0 | 53,698 | $ 0 |
Notes receivable, long term portion |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,832 |  | 2,832 |  | $ 2,559
Sinovel Wind Group Co Ltd |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Sinovel settlement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (53,700) |  |
Sinovel settlement |  |  | $ 57,500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of installments | installment |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from settlement | $ 25,000 | $ 32,500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
64 Jackson LLC |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase and sale agreement, total consideration |  |  |  | $ 23,000 | $ 23,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase and sale agreement, sale of property |  |  |  | 17,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes receivable, long term portion |  |  |  | 6,000 | $ 6,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase and sale agreement, proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment, net |  |  |  | $ 16,900 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate |  |  |  | 1.96% |  |  | 1.96% |  | 1.96% |  |
Inox Wind Limited |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Strategic agreements value |  |  |  |  |  | $ 210,000 |  |  |  |  |
Manufacturing agreement period, additional period required |  |  |  |  |  | 3 years |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Litigation Settlement, Number Of Installments + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_LitigationSettlementNumberOfInstallments
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Notes Receivable, Stated Interest Rate + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_NotesReceivableStatedInterestRate
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Purchase and Sale Agreement, Proceeds From Sale of Property, Plant and Equipment + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_PurchaseAndSaleAgreementProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Purchase and Sale Agreement Proceeds From Sale of Property Plant And Equipment, Net + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_PurchaseAndSaleAgreementProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Purchase And Sale Agreement, Total Consideration + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_PurchaseAndSaleAgreementTotalConsideration
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Supply Agreement, Aggregate Value + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_SupplyAgreementAggregateValue
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Supply Commitment, Extension Period + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_SupplyCommitmentExtensionPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3044-108585 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82887183&loc=d3e6676-107765 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -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_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of gain (loss) recognized in settlement of litigation and insurance claims. Excludes claims within an insurance entity's normal claims settlement process. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount awarded from other party in judgment or settlement of litigation. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedFromOtherParty
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
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 Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities, including discontinued operations. Operating activity cash flows include transactions, adjustments, and changes in value not defined as investing or financing activities. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3536-108585 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 24 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3521-108585 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition An amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date more than one year from the balance sheet date, net of any write-downs taken for collection uncertainty on the part of the holder. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the debt. The debt also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. This amount does not include amounts related to receivables held-for-sale. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NotesAndLoansReceivableNetNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Cash received for the settlement of litigation during the current period. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3536-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProceedsFromLegalSettlements
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cumulative amount of the reporting entity's undistributed earnings or deficit. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(30)(a)(3)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(23)(a)(4)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- Details
Name: | srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=amsc_SixtyFourJacksonLLCMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=amsc_InoxWindLimitedMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |