Flexible thermoplastic driveshaft

A flexible composite driveshaft formed by automated fiber placement, the flexible composite driveshaft comprising:

• a first region extending longitudinally about an axis and having a substantially constant first diameter;
• and
• a second region adjacent to the first region, the second region comprising:
• a first diaphragm extending radially outward from the first region about a circumference of the driveshaft;
• and
• a second diaphragm extending radially outward from the first region about the circumference of the driveshaft;
• wherein the first and second regions each comprise a plurality of strips of unidirectional fiber tape, wherein the plurality of strips is arranged in a plurality of stacked layers and wherein a first portion of the plurality of strips is oriented in a circumferential direction;
• and
• wherein at least one of the circumferentially-oriented strips of unidirectional fiber tape is positioned between the first and second diaphragms and comprises a plurality of folds formed about the circumference of the driveshaft.