Hovedhjulet fungerer; det er ikke dermed sagt at robotstøvsugeren passerer terskelen.

Norwegian usually writes compound nouns as a single word, so hovedhjul = main wheel.

Here:

• hoved = main
• hjul = wheel
• hovedhjul = main wheel
• hovedhjulet = the main wheel

The ending -et is the definite singular ending for many neuter nouns. Since hjul is a neuter noun, hjulet means the wheel, and hovedhjulet means the main wheel.

Fungerer is the present tense of å fungere = to function / to work.

So:

• å fungere = to function
• fungerer = functions / is working
• fungerte = functioned / was working

In this sentence, the present tense is used because it states a current fact: the main wheel works.

Norwegian present tense is very simple:

• jeg fungerer
• du fungerer
• den fungerer

The verb form does not change according to the subject, unlike English.

Yes, but they are often close in meaning.

• fungerer = functions, operates properly
• virker = works, is functioning, is in effect

In many everyday contexts, both can work:

• Hovedhjulet fungerer
• Hovedhjulet virker

But fungerer can sound a little more technical or mechanical, which fits well with a robot vacuum.

Yes, it is a very common expression. It means something like:

• that does not automatically mean that ...
• it does not follow from that that ...
• that is not to say that ...

It is used when you want to prevent someone from drawing too strong a conclusion from what was just said.

So the logic is:

• Fact 1: the main wheel works.
• But: that fact alone does not prove that the robot vacuum can get over the threshold.

This expression is very common in both formal and neutral spoken Norwegian.

Dermed usually means:

• thereby
• with that
• as a result
• thus

It often links one thing to a consequence.

Examples:

• Han sa opp, og dermed mistet han inntekten.
  He resigned, and as a result he lost his income.
• Du har betalt, og dermed er saken avsluttet.
  You have paid, and with that the matter is closed.

In det er ikke dermed sagt at, the word helps express the idea it is not thereby said that..., meaning that fact does not in itself establish the next conclusion.

Sagt is the past participle of å si = to say.

The structure is a fixed idiomatic expression:

• det er sagt at ... = it is said that ...
• det er ikke dermed sagt at ... = it is not thereby said that ...

Literally, it looks like:

• det = it
• er = is
• ikke = not
• dermed = thereby
• sagt = said
• at ... = that ...

But you should not translate it word-for-word too rigidly. It is best learned as a chunk with the meaning that does not necessarily mean that...

This det is a dummy subject, similar to English it in expressions like:

• It is said that ...
• It is important that ...

Norwegian often uses det in impersonal constructions where there is no concrete thing being pointed to.

So in det er ikke dermed sagt at ..., det does not mean a specific object. It is just part of the structure.

Again, this is a compound noun, which Norwegian writes as one word:

• robot = robot
• støvsuger = vacuum cleaner
• robotstøvsuger = robot vacuum
• robotstøvsugeren = the robot vacuum

The ending -en is the definite singular ending for many common-gender nouns.

So:

• en robotstøvsuger = a robot vacuum
• robotstøvsugeren = the robot vacuum

This tells us we are talking about a specific robot vacuum, not robot vacuums in general.

Because å passere usually takes a direct object in Norwegian.

So:

• passere terskelen = pass the threshold
• passere huset = pass the house
• passere grensen = cross/pass the border

No preposition is needed.

That said, Norwegian can also use other expressions depending on nuance:

• kommer over terskelen = gets over the threshold
• klarer å passere terskelen = manages to pass the threshold

Here, passerer terskelen sounds slightly more neutral and matter-of-fact.

Terskelen is the definite form: the threshold.

So:

• en terskel = a threshold
• terskelen = the threshold

The definite form is natural here because it refers to a specific threshold, probably the one in the home or doorway being discussed.

Norwegian often uses the definite form where English also would:

• passerer terskelen = passes the threshold

Yes. After at, Norwegian normally uses subordinate clause word order.

Here the clause is:

• robotstøvsugeren passerer terskelen

That is already normal subject-verb order:

• robotstøvsugeren = subject
• passerer = verb
• terskelen = object

If you added an adverb like ikke, you would see the subordinate-clause pattern more clearly:

• ... at robotstøvsugeren ikke passerer terskelen

Notice that ikke comes before the verb in the subordinate clause.

Compare:

• Main clause: Robotstøvsugeren passerer ikke terskelen.
• Subordinate clause: ... at robotstøvsugeren ikke passerer terskelen.

That is a very important Norwegian word-order pattern.

The semicolon links two closely related independent clauses:

• Hovedhjulet fungerer
• det er ikke dermed sagt at robotstøvsugeren passerer terskelen

A semicolon suggests:

• these are separate statements,
• but they belong closely together logically.

A full stop would also be possible:

• Hovedhjulet fungerer. Det er ikke dermed sagt at ...

A comma would usually not be correct here, because both parts are full independent clauses.

Yes. The original sentence is natural, but somewhat polished or formal-neutral because of det er ikke dermed sagt at.

More everyday alternatives might be:

• Hovedhjulet fungerer, men det betyr ikke nødvendigvis at robotstøvsugeren kommer over terskelen.
• Selv om hovedhjulet fungerer, betyr ikke det at robotstøvsugeren passerer terskelen.
• At hovedhjulet fungerer, betyr ikke automatisk at robotstøvsugeren passerer terskelen.

These all express a similar idea, but the original version is a nice example of a common educated expression.

It is understandable and natural enough, especially in a technical or explanatory context. But depending on the speaker and situation, some might more spontaneously say:

• kommer over terskelen = gets over the threshold
• klarer terskelen = manages the threshold
• kommer seg over terskelen = gets itself over the threshold

The verb passere can sound a little more objective or descriptive, while komme over sounds more everyday and physical. So the sentence is fine, but there are stylistic alternatives.