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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2020 USD ($) segment	Jan. 31, 2020 USD ($) ReportingUnits	Jan. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2019 USD ($) segment	Jan. 31, 2019 USD ($) ReportingUnits	Jan. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2018	Jan. 31, 2018 segment	Jan. 31, 2018 ReportingUnits	Jan. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Feb. 01, 2019 USD ($)
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
Number of reportable segments			3	3			3	3			3	3
Noncontrolling Interest
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		$ 21,302	$ 21,302	$ 21,302	$ 21,302	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction					3,176
Due to Affiliate, Current		409	409	409	409
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents, on deposit in the United States		14,003	14,003	14,003	14,003	61,221	61,221	61,221	61,221
Cash held outside the United States		6,704	6,704	6,704	6,704	4,566	4,566	4,566	4,566
Equity Investments [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal					0				5,785				$ 0
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current [Abstract]
Unbilled receivables		6,954	6,954	6,954	6,954	1,391	1,391	1,391	1,391
Pre-Contract Costs [Abstract]
Pre-contract costs deferred to inventory		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Pre-contract deferred costs written off					0				0				$ 0
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]
Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset														$ 233
Operating Lease right-of-use asset		4,275	4,275	4,275	4,275	0	0	0	0					3,807
Lease liability, current		2,530	2,530	2,530	2,530	0	0	0	0					1,446
Lease liability, noncurrent		$ 2,627	$ 2,627	$ 2,627	$ 2,627	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	0					$ 2,571
Dot Technology Corp. [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners		36.00%	36.00%	36.00%	36.00%
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		$ 21,302	$ 21,302	$ 21,302	$ 21,302
Aerostar Integrated Systems [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest
Joint venture, ownership percentage		75.00%	75.00%	75.00%	75.00%
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired		25.00%	25.00%	25.00%	25.00%
Minimum
Intangible Assets
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life, minimum, years		3 years
Maximum
Intangible Assets
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life, minimum, years		20 years
Building and Improvements \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful lives		15 years
Building and Improvements \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful lives		39 years
Machinery and Equipment \| Applied Technology \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful lives		3 years
Machinery and Equipment \| Applied Technology \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful lives		5 years
Machinery and Equipment \| Engineered Films \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful lives		5 years
Machinery and Equipment \| Engineered Films \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful lives		12 years
Machinery and Equipment \| Aerostar \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful lives		3 years
Machinery and Equipment \| Aerostar \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful lives		5 years
Furniture, Fixtures, Office Equipment and Other [Member] \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful lives		3 years
Furniture, Fixtures, Office Equipment and Other [Member] \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful lives		7 years
AgEagle Aerial Systems \| Applied Technology
Equity Investments [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage										5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%
Variable Interest Entity, name of investee equity method investment										Ag-Eagle Aerial Systems, Inc.
SST \| Applied Technology
Equity Investments [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage										22.00%	22.00%	22.00%	22.00%
Variable Interest Entity, name of investee equity method investment										Site-Specific Technology Development Group, Inc.
Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Other Investments									6,556
Hold-back for equity investment sold						15.00%
SST \| Applied Technology \| Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)
Equity Investments [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal	$ 5,785								$ 5,785