Goodwill, Long-lived Assets and Other Intangibles Long-lived Assets and Other Intangibles (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016	Jan. 31, 2017
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived asset impairment loss	$ 0	$ 87,000	$ 259,000	$ 87,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	25,146,000	24,584,000	25,146,000	24,584,000	$ 24,501,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(13,771,000)	(12,073,000)	(13,771,000)	(12,073,000)	(12,453,000)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	11,375,000	12,511,000	11,375,000	12,511,000	12,048,000
Technology-Based Intangible Assets [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	7,218,000	7,157,000	7,218,000	7,157,000	7,136,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(6,854,000)	(6,490,000)	(6,854,000)	(6,490,000)	(6,553,000)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	364,000	667,000	364,000	667,000	583,000
Customer-Related Intangible Assets [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	13,220,000	13,000,000	13,220,000	13,000,000	12,987,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(4,503,000)	(3,421,000)	(4,503,000)	(3,421,000)	(3,680,000)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	8,717,000	9,579,000	8,717,000	9,579,000	9,307,000
Patents [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	4,708,000	4,427,000	4,708,000	4,427,000	4,378,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(2,414,000)	(2,162,000)	(2,414,000)	(2,162,000)	(2,220,000)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	2,294,000	2,265,000	2,294,000	2,265,000	$ 2,158,000
Aerostar [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Inventory Write-down		2,278,000		2,278,000
Aerostar [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Inventory Write-down	0	2,278,000	0	2,278,000
Aerostar [Member] | Lighter-than-air [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
long-lived asset fair value in excess of carrying value		$ 110,000,000		$ 110,000,000
Asset Group, Percentage of Fair Value in Exess of Carrying Amount		800.00%		800.00%
Aerostar [Member] | Radar assets [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Fair Value Disclosure		$ 175,000		$ 175,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		262,000		262,000
Aerostar [Member] | Radar assets [Member] | Operating Income (Loss) [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived asset impairment loss		87,000		87,000
Aerostar [Member] | Radar assets [Member] | Property, Plant and Equipment [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived asset impairment loss		62,000		62,000
Aerostar [Member] | Radar assets [Member] | Intellectual Property [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived asset impairment loss		25,000		25,000
AgEagle Aerial Systems [Member] | Applied Technology [Member] | Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Other than Temporary Impairment	0	0	72,000	0
AgEagle Aerial Systems [Member] | Applied Technology [Member] | Customer-Related Intangible Assets [Member] | Operating Income (Loss) [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived asset impairment loss	$ 0	$ 0	$ 259,000	$ 0