For those of you who’ve been reading my fanfic “Ghost in The Machine” which is about my Danny Program AU, I’m finally starting to get into the first stages of Vlad building Daniel a temporary android body to incorporate his original program and protect it along with his developing ghost core. In the most recent chapter, Vlad repurposed the remaining nanobots from the episode “Secret Weapons” to help Daniel use his energy more effectively so it won’t tire him out nearly as much when he has to focus on turning tangible for any length of time.
“...at any rate, while the nanobots new functions are a bit more complex, the main goal was to make it easier to monitor his vitals and brain waves so I would be alerted to any future abnormalities. Secondly, I added a sort of anti-virus to help protect him against damage to his core data from unstable or incompatible ecto-energy. And finally, since we learned that Daniel can self-generate electricity as a power source in place of a natural ecto-energy one, the last one would act as a booster and a stimulant to help him get used to drawing in both types of ambient energy from now on.”
Basically what this means is since Daniel was originally a hologram, aka a computer simulation he self-generates his own electric energy to substitute a natural source of ectoplasmic energy like other ghosts. That’s why it’s so hard for him to use even the most basic ghost powers that require a lot more energy, such as constantly maintaining a physical form...
So to get Daniel used to absorbing and using both types of energy in even amounts, the new nanobots have a similar function to the ecto-converter which will use the ectoenergy boosters Vlad’s going to start giving him regularly to jump start his ghost core. That way, the nanobots will help reduce the effort it takes for Daniel to use his ghost powers so that he can start strengthening and developing them, and his ability to generate his own electricity will replace the rod here.
Now all Vlad needs is a vessel for him, aka a body for Daniel to control directly.
Story: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13995769/1/Ghost-In-The-Machine
Ecto-Skeleton: https://dannyphantom.fandom.com/wiki/Ecto-Skeleton
Ecto-Converter: https://dannyphantom.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Fenton_Works_gadgets#Ecto-Converter