first and second brackets for mounting the shade system to a structure;

a motor drive unit;

a lift assistance subsystem;

a roller tube extending from a first end to a second end and defining at least one internal cavity, the roller tube rotatably supported by the first and second brackets, the at least one internal cavity sized and configured to receive the motor drive unit therein;

a housing extending from a first end to a second end and supported by the first and second brackets, the housing configured to receive, at the first end of the housing, one or more batteries for powering the motor drive unit inside the roller tube, the housing also configured to support the lift assistance subsystem at the second end of the housing; and

a Roman shade fabric having a top end adapted to be fixedly connected adjacent to the housing and a bottom end adapted to move between a first position and a second position, the Roman shade fabric coupled to the roller tube by a plurality of cords that wind and unwind around the roller tube as the Roman shade fabric is moved between the first position and the second position;

wherein the lift assistance subsystem is configured to provide variable lift assistance to the motor drive unit.