Acquisitions of and Investments in Businesses and Technologies Business Combinations (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2016	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2016
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements [Abstract]
Acquisition-related contingent consideration liability, Current	$ 454,000	$ 938,000	$ 407,000
Acquisition-related contingent consideration liability, Noncurrent	2,338,000	3,046,000	$ 2,499,000
Payments of acquisition-related contingent liability	$ (138,000)	(614,000)
SBG Innovatie [Member]
Business Combination, Description [Abstract]
Business Acquisition, Name of Acquired Entity	SBG Innovatie BV
Navtronics [Member]
Business Combination, Description [Abstract]
Business Acquisition, Name of Acquired Entity	Navtronics BVBA
SBG Innovatie and Affiliates [Member]
Business Combination, Description [Abstract]
Business Acquisition, Date of Acquisition Agreement	May 01, 2014
Contingent consideration, potential cash payment	$ 2,500,000
Contingent Consideration Term in Years	10 years
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements [Abstract]
Acquisition-related contingent consideration, total liability	$ 1,491,000	1,410,000
Acquisition-related contingent consideration liability, Current	237,000	287,000
Acquisition-related contingent consideration liability, Noncurrent	1,254,000	1,123,000
Payments of acquisition-related contingent liability	59,000	29,000
Business acquisition contingent consideration cumulative paid	$ 367
Vista Research [Member]
Business Combination, Description [Abstract]
Business Acquisition, Date of Acquisition Agreement	Jan. 06, 2012
Contingent consideration, potential cash payment	$ 15,000,000
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements [Abstract]
Acquisition-related contingent consideration, total liability	1,279,000	2,571,000
Acquisition-related contingent consideration liability, Current	195,000	648,000
Acquisition-related contingent consideration liability, Noncurrent	1,084,000	1,923,000
Payments of acquisition-related contingent liability	$ 79,000	$ 585,000
Business acquisition contingent consideration payments period	7 years
Business acquisition contingent consideration cumulative paid	$ 1,471,000
Applied Technology [Member] | AgEagle Aerial Systems [Member]
Variable Interest Entity Disclosure [Abstract]
Variable Interest Entity, acquisition date equity method investment	Feb. 29, 2016
Variable Interest Entity, name of investee equity method investment	AgEagle Aerial Systems, Inc.
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	5.00%