diff --git a/pylabrobot/legacy/liquid_handling/backends/hamilton/STAR_chatterbox.py b/pylabrobot/legacy/liquid_handling/backends/hamilton/STAR_chatterbox.py
index 2a426177ba0..59d37fccec7 100644
--- a/pylabrobot/legacy/liquid_handling/backends/hamilton/STAR_chatterbox.py
+++ b/pylabrobot/legacy/liquid_handling/backends/hamilton/STAR_chatterbox.py
@@ -105,6 +105,9 @@ def __init__(
     self._num_channels = num_channels
     self._iswap_parked = True
     self._sim_iswap_information = iswap_information  # None means use default at setup
+    # Absolute heights latched by simulated LLD, one per channel. See
+    # `request_pip_height_last_lld`; `_run_lld_on_channel_batch` writes them.
+    self._last_lld_absolute_heights = [0.0] * num_channels
 
     if core96_head_installed is not None or iswap_installed is not None:
       extended_configuration = copy.deepcopy(extended_configuration)
@@ -484,8 +487,18 @@ async def request_tip_len_on_channel(self, channel_idx: int) -> float:
   async def position_channels_in_y_direction(self, ys, make_space=True):
     logger.info("positioning channels in y: %s make_space: %s", ys, make_space)
 
-  async def request_pip_height_last_lld(self):
-    return list(range(12))
+  async def request_pip_height_last_lld(self) -> List[float]:
+    """Return the absolute heights latched by simulated liquid-level detection (LLD).
+
+    `_run_lld_on_channel_batch` records each simulated measurement by physical channel.
+    Values remain latched until another simulated LLD updates that channel. Channels with
+    no recorded simulated LLD report the initial value of 0.0.
+
+    Returns:
+      Simulated absolute liquid heights (mm) from the last LLD event for each channel,
+      ordered by channel index.
+    """
+    return list(self._last_lld_absolute_heights)
 
   async def _run_lld_on_channel_batch(
     self,
@@ -503,9 +516,13 @@ async def _run_lld_on_channel_batch(
     Empty containers report the cavity-bottom Z (relative height 0). Non-empty
     containers report ``cavity_bottom + compute_height_from_volume(volume)`` so the
     parent ``probe_liquid_heights`` can subtract ``z_cavity_bottom`` consistently.
+
+    Each reading is also latched per physical channel for ``request_pip_height_last_lld``.
     """
     measurements: Dict[int, List[Optional[float]]] = {}
-    for orig_idx in batch.indices:
+    # ``indices`` are job indices and ``channels`` the physical channels running them; they are
+    # parallel, so a job's reading is latched at its channel, not at its position in the batch.
+    for orig_idx, channel_idx in zip(batch.indices, batch.channels):
       container = containers[orig_idx]
       volume = container.tracker.get_used_volume()
       if volume == 0:
@@ -513,4 +530,5 @@ async def _run_lld_on_channel_batch(
       else:
         absolute_height = z_cavity_bottom[orig_idx] + container.compute_height_from_volume(volume)
       measurements[orig_idx] = [absolute_height] * n_replicates
+      self._last_lld_absolute_heights[channel_idx] = absolute_height
     return measurements
diff --git a/pylabrobot/legacy/liquid_handling/backends/hamilton/STAR_tests.py b/pylabrobot/legacy/liquid_handling/backends/hamilton/STAR_tests.py
index 4ab384fa381..d2f822bcd4d 100644
--- a/pylabrobot/legacy/liquid_handling/backends/hamilton/STAR_tests.py
+++ b/pylabrobot/legacy/liquid_handling/backends/hamilton/STAR_tests.py
@@ -2597,6 +2597,68 @@ async def test_duplicate_channels_serialize_measurements(self):
     self.assertAlmostEqual(result[1], 0 - well_b.get_absolute_location("c", "c", "cavity_bottom").z)
 
 
+class TestChatterboxLastLLDHeights(unittest.IsolatedAsyncioTestCase):
+  """The chatterbox's last-LLD query reports the heights its simulated sensing produced.
+
+  `STARChatterboxBackend` simulates sensing in `_run_lld_on_channel_batch`, computing absolute
+  heights from each container's volume tracker. `request_pip_height_last_lld` must report those
+  same heights, under the base method's contract: one absolute height (mm) per channel, indexed
+  by physical channel index.
+  """
+
+  PROBE_VOLUME = 150.0  # uL
+
+  async def asyncSetUp(self):
+    self.backend = STARChatterboxBackend()
+    self.deck = STARLetDeck()
+    self.lh = LiquidHandler(self.backend, deck=self.deck)
+
+    self.tip_car = TIP_CAR_480_A00(name="tip carrier")
+    self.tip_car[1] = self.tip_rack = hamilton_96_tiprack_300uL_filter(name="tip_rack_01")
+    self.deck.assign_child_resource(self.tip_car, rails=1)
+
+    self.plt_car = PLT_CAR_L5AC_A00(name="plate carrier")
+    self.plt_car[0] = self.plate = cor_96_wellplate_360uL_Fb(name="plate_01")
+    self.deck.assign_child_resource(self.plt_car, rails=9)
+
+    await self.lh.setup()
+
+  async def asyncTearDown(self):
+    await self.lh.stop()
+
+  async def test_reports_no_measurement_before_any_lld(self):
+    heights = await self.backend.request_pip_height_last_lld()
+
+    self.assertEqual(len(heights), self.backend.num_channels)
+    self.assertTrue(all(isinstance(h, float) for h in heights))
+    self.assertEqual(heights, [0.0] * self.backend.num_channels)
+
+  async def test_latches_simulated_height_at_physical_channel(self):
+    # Channel 3, not 0: `_run_lld_on_channel_batch` keys its result by job index
+    # (`batch.indices`), but the query is indexed by physical channel (`batch.channels`).
+    # With a single job on channel 0 the two coincide and the distinction goes untested.
+    channel = 3
+    well = self.plate.get_item("D1")
+    await self.lh.pick_up_tips(self.tip_rack["D1"], use_channels=[channel])
+    well.tracker.set_volume(self.PROBE_VOLUME)
+
+    await self.backend.probe_liquid_heights(containers=[well], use_channels=[channel])
+
+    expected = well.get_absolute_location(
+      "c", "c", "cavity_bottom"
+    ).z + well.compute_height_from_volume(self.PROBE_VOLUME)
+    heights = await self.backend.request_pip_height_last_lld()
+
+    self.assertEqual(len(heights), self.backend.num_channels)
+    self.assertAlmostEqual(heights[channel], expected)
+    # Channels that did not probe still report no measurement. Index 0 in particular is where
+    # the measurement would land if job indices were mistaken for physical channel indices.
+    self.assertEqual(
+      [h for i, h in enumerate(heights) if i != channel],
+      [0.0] * (self.backend.num_channels - 1),
+    )
+
+
 class TestXArmGeometry(unittest.IsolatedAsyncioTestCase):
   """setup() resolves QM/RU/UA firmware onto the X-drive DriveConfigurations."""