Business Acquisitions (Details)		3 Months Ended
	Jun. 10, 2019 USD ($) item	Jul. 27, 2019 USD ($)	Jul. 28, 2018 USD ($)
Business Acquisitions
Ownership interest acquired	100.00%
Business Combinations, Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed at Acquisition Date
Goodwill		$ 8,080,000
Fair value of consideration transferred:
Period of goodwill deduction		15 years
SG&A
Supplemental Pro forma Information
Acquisition-related costs		$ 341,000
Pulse Aerospace, LLC
Business Acquisitions
Ownership interest acquired	100.00%
Amount of cash less closing indebtedness and transaction costs	$ 20,650,000
Amount of retention to cover post closing indemnification claims	250,000
Amount of holdback	$ 1,250,000
Number of months after closing holdback will be paid	18 months
Number of research and development milestones | item	2
Total milestone achievement	$ 5,000,000
Change in contingent consideration		0
Fair value of contingent consideration		4,295,000
Business Combinations, Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed at Acquisition Date
Inventory	334,000
Goodwill	8,080,000
Other assets and liabilities assumed	(614,000)
Total net identified assets acquired	24,440,000
Fair value of consideration transferred:
Cash	18,677,000
Holdback	1,250,000
Retention	250,000
Contingent consideration	$ 4,263,000
Supplemental Pro forma Information
Revenue		87,138,000	$ 79,313,000
Net income attributable to AeroVironment		17,393,000	$ 26,369,000
Pulse Aerospace, LLC | Discount rate
Business Acquisitions
Measurement input	4.5
Pulse Aerospace, LLC | Minimum
Business Acquisitions
Each milestone achievement	$ 0
Pulse Aerospace, LLC | Maximum
Business Acquisitions
Each milestone achievement	2,500,000
Fair value of consideration transferred:
Cash		$ 5,000,000
Pulse Aerospace, LLC | Technology
Business Combinations, Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed at Acquisition Date
Intangible assets	14,950,000
Pulse Aerospace, LLC | In process research and development
Business Combinations, Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed at Acquisition Date
Intangible assets	1,370,000
Pulse Aerospace, LLC | Non-compete agreements
Business Combinations, Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed at Acquisition Date
Intangible assets	$ 320,000